Share memories of festival days gone by

DO you remember the Deeply Vale festivals?

If so museum bosses are looking for your stories from the legendary free concerts, which took place in Ashworth Valley in the mid to late 70s.

An exhibition to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the 1978 festival is due to be held at Touchstones next year.

And now curators are looking for your stories as part of the exhibition.

Organisers were inspired by a free festival which took place in Rivington Pike, near Bolton, in 1976.

There was an existing pool of talent to call on as the local band Tractor and their manager were keen to be involved. After a few weeks of frantic planning the dream became a reality and in 1976 Deeply Vale played host to a gathering of musicians and fans alike.

Two years later the festival saw its biggest crowd, when more than 20,000 people watched over 40 bands play.

Manchester’s Factory Records first ever signing Durutti Column played at Deeply Vale and came to record in Rochdale with the famous Manchester producer Steve Hillage, who himself flew back from the Midnight Sun festival in Finland specially to play at the festival. Tony Wilson compered the New Wave afternoon, which included a then little known Prestwich band called The Fall and Wilson’s fellow Granada TV presenter Trevor Hyett also compered and performed at the folk afternoon.

Contact Touchstones on 641085.