The Bowl 2005

The local festival that has been going for seven years in the Crystal palace park is one of many Free music events that are typical of England, like the Green festivals that are going on all over Britain the most important one the big green gatheringthat are like a heritage from the old days when markets and fares where the prime meeting place.
The Bowl of Crystal Palace has an excellent setting on the grounds of the 1850 Palace which later burnt down. It has also carved itself a place in rock history hosting legends such as Bob Marley.
“…fronted by the trademark lily filled lake (Crystal Palace) became host to many world famous bands such as, Bob Marley The Beach Boys, Eric Clapton, Yes, Depeche Mode, The Cure and Level 42.
Events that took place included the UK’s first one day rock festival ‘The Crystal Palace Garden Party’ (15th May 1971), a rain soaked day that ended tragically with the goldfish in the lake dying thanks to Pink Floyds massive sound system! And what must be one of the strangest concert line-ups ever at the anti-heroin campaign concert in 1985, which saw acts such as Doctor & the Medic, Comsat Angels and Hawkwind alongside Dame Vera Lynne! Virtual Norwood

The localness of the event is tangible and it is a success in many ways because it has stayed a small grass root charity event that doesn’t have to please big investors that these days seem to dominate the music festival scene, every festival seems to go with a beer or mobile brand. Examples of big festivals that has been sponsored or instigated by business is the Virgin’s
V festival .
The world of music festivals are these days big business in a blog about uk festivals I read the following “Mean Fiddler, the company that owns Reading, Leeds, Homeland and 39% of Glastonbury has just accepted a joint takeover bid by two other major live concert and festival producers. The successful approach has come from US giant Clear Channel Entertainment (who run the UK’s Download, Wireless, Isle of White and all Hyde Park events) “
The festival scene looks straight away very global and homogeneous, is there really space for originality when the there is one US company behind 8 major UK events.