Various Artists - Festival Actuel

Review by Bill Kopp

In October 1969 -- two and a half months after Woodstock -- the rock festival was at its peak. Eclectic festivals were the norm. So it was then that the French indie/jazz music mag Actuel planned to sponsor a five-day show in Paris. Oddly, they chose Frank Zappa to serve as emcee. Speaking no French, Zappa chose to communicate through music, and jammed onstage with a few of the groups. Last-minute permit difficulties forced the relocation of the festival to Mont de l'Enclus in Amougies Belgium. A film was made of concert highlights, but owing to performance-rights issues, the film, Music Power, was never released.

So ended the story...almost. In 2005 a figure known only as "JJB" released his audience tapes of the show to interested parties at no charge. While the tapes are not release quality -- distortion and tape speed problems are evident, and the taper simply switched off his recorder mid-song if he didn't care for an act -- the music serves as an important historical document.

The tapes include complete sets by several major acts. Ten Years After built upon their newfound fame. The original Yes lineup played a rousing set of mostly covers. The Nice (featuring Keith Emerson) did a set, one of their last before folding. Canterbury favorites Caravan played a full set, as did Captain Beefheart. Pink Floyd jammed with Zappa, as did overlooked psychedelic group Blossom Toes. In most cases, Zappa would just surprise the musicians mid-set and walk on. Interviewed in March 2006, Blossom Toes guitarist Brian Godding told me, "Frank [came] on, tuned up and [tried] to teach us one of his tunes...in front of the crowd!"

Ten discs in all, the Festival Actuel set provides a time-capsule alternative to Woodstock. Highly recommended to anyone interested in the progressive end of late 60s rock.

Difficulty to Locate: 9 out of 10
General Listenability: 7 out of 10

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