A new museum devoted to the musical history of the Isle of Wight has opened in Newport.
The first floor exhibition opened to guests at a gala evening on Friday, at Triple A Records in St James Street.
Pretty Things guitarist Dick Taylor, early sixties singing star Pat Reader and other Isle of Wight musicians were first to walk around exhibits collected from the three original Island festivals in 1968, 1969 and 1970.
Rare images, contemporary music press articles and even an original ‘paper’ sleeping bag from the 1970 Festival are on show. The display will be regularly updated and added to, with different themes and exhibitions as the Museum develops.
Those who attended the opening event on Friday evening were shown an extended version of the recent BBC One Show film about archaeology at the Afton site, and heard memories from Peter Harrigan, the press officer of the 1969 and 1970 Festivals.
Peter also told of how his involvement with those events led to him working with Joni Mitchell and Frank Zappa.
Andy Barding of Triple A Records said:
“The Museum will be working with and supported by the Isle of Wight Music Heritage Group, which came into being to stage fiftieth anniversary events for the 1968 and 1969 Festivals.
“Together we aim to both curate and preserve the history of music on the Island, along with supporting and encouraging new performers, composers and venues.”
On Friday people were asked if they had memories or items of interest.
As a result the museum has already been promised a collection of items found in various digs at the Afton site and will be interviewing a lady who shared memories of working as a nurse in the medical tent at the 1970 Festival.
The Museum would love to hear from anyone who has items they would like to see displayed or who would like to record their memories to be part of the Museum archive.
The museum and record shop are open Mondays to Saturdays, 9.30am to 5.30pm.
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