1969

MONDAY
06 JAN 1969
Bay Hotel
Sunderland, England

FRIDAY
17 JAN 1969
Brunel University Rag Week Ball, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore
South Kensington, South West London, England
w/ Ten Years After, Principal Edwards Magic Theatre, Georgie Fame, John Peel

SATURDAY
18 JAN 1969
Houldsworth Hall
Manchester, England
w/ Roy Harper, Bridget St. John

SUNDAY
25 JAN 1969
Lanchester Arts Festival, Lanchester Polytechnic
Coventry, England
w/ Eclection

MONDAY
26 JAN 1969
Newcastle City Hall, Northumberland Road
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England
w/ Gun, Bonzo Dog Band

TUESDAY
27 JAN 1969
Sheffield City Hall, Barker’s Pool
Sheffield, England
w/ The Nice

THURSDAY
30 JAN 1969
Red Lion Hotel, Leytonstone High Road
London, England

FRIDAY
31 JAN 1969
King’s College
Strand, London, England
w/ Blonde on Blonde

SATURDAY
01 FEB 1969
The Alex Disco, The Alexander Rooms, New Street
Salisbury, Wiltshire, England

THURSDAY
06 FEB 1969
City Hall, Northumberland Road
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England
w/ Moby Grape, The Nice

SATURDAY
08 FEB 1969
Middle Earth at the Roundhouse, 100 Chalk Farm Road
Chalk Farm, North West London, England
w/ Egg, Arcadium

SUNDAY
16 FEB 1969
The Mothers, High Street
Erdington, Birmingham, West Midlands, England

WEDNESDAY
19 FEB 1969
Brighton Dome, Church Street
Brighton, East Sussex, England
w/ Bonzo Dog Band, Free

FRIDAY
21 FEB 1969
Top Rank
Watford, England

MONDAY
24 FEB 1969
Lanchester College Arts Festival
Coventry, England
w/ John Peel, Pentangle, Jeff Beck, Eclection, Duster Bennett, Champion Jack Dupree, Liverpool Scene, Jo-Ann Kelly, Simon & Steve, Sydney Carter, Davy Graham, Ron Geesin

THURSDAY
27 FEB 1969
Locarno (Corn Exchange)
Swindon, England

FRIDAY
28 FEB 1969
Bluesville 69, The Hornsey Wood Tavern, 376 Seven Sisters Rd.
London, England

MAR 1969 ALBUM RELEASE Entertainment (#6, UK, RSLP 6340)

MONDAY
03 MAR 1969
BBC SESSION: Symonds On Sunday
BBC Studio 2, Aoelian Hall
London, England
Broadcast: 09 MAR 1969

• Holding The Compass
• Processions
• How Hi The Li

TUESDAY
04 MAR 1969
Klooks Kleek, Railway Hotel
West Hampstead, North West London, England

WEDNESDAY
05 MAR 1969 
BBC SESSION: Radio One Club
BBC Paris Cinema, Lower Regent Street
London, England

• live radio broadcast

FRIDAY
07 MAR 1969
Anson Rooms, Student Union, Bristol University
Bristol, England

MONDAY
10 MAR 1969
King’s Head, Romford Market
Romford, England

TUESDAY
11 MAR 1969 
BBC SESSION: Top Gear
BBC Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue
London, England
Broadcast: 30 MAR 1969

• Love Is A Sleeper
• I Sing ‘Um The Way I Feel
• A Song For Me
• Bring It On HomeBring It On Home

THURSDAY
13 MAR 1969 England, London, 100 Club
w/ Village

SATURDAY
15 MAR 1969
Imperial College Union, Prince Consort Rd
South Kensington, London, England
w/ Smile

“At I.C. hop last Saturday Ents. presented their star attraction of the term — The Family. About 700 people packed into the Concert Hall to see one of the best live performance I have ever seen.

All except their final numbers were taken from their two L.P.s, the majority from Family Entertainment. The group started with what is becoming their standard opener: “The Weaver’s Answer”. This number created an atmosphere which they were to maintain throughout the evening, an atmosphere based on the surging and unbelievable voice of Roger Chapman combined with the wide range of musical talent expressed by the other members of the group.”
– The Felix, March 20 1969

SUNDAY
16 MAR 1969
The Mothers, High Street
Erdington, Birmingham, West Midlands, England
w/ Taste

SUNDAY
30 MAR 1969
Haverstock Hill Country Club, 20 Haverstock Hill
Belsize Park, North West London, England

1ST AMERICAN TOUR (8-Weeks)

WEDNESDAY
09 APR 1969
Fillmore East, 2nd Ave E 6th St
New York City, NY, United States
w/ The Nice and Ten Years After; the Bill Graham incident

Roger Chapman (in Oldie-Markt, circa 1990): “I just made one of my numbers with the microphone stand, when Bill Graham appeared to see the last part of the show. Obviously he was shocked when he saw how I dealt with the microphone; it was absolutely unusual and he was totally startled. So he ran down the corridor and pulled down all of our posters. Well, we understood one another afterwards in spite of that, and we did several concerts for Graham later, but I think several other concert organizers and other people in the music business followed Bill’s example because he was an important person in the business, and expelled us.”

THURSDAY
10 APR 1969
Fillmore East, 2nd Ave E 6th St
New York City, NY, United States
w/ The Nice and Ten Years After

FRIDAY-SUNDAY
11-13 APR 1969
Boston Tea Party, 53 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA, United States
w/ Sweetwater

MONDAY-THURSDAY
14-17 APR 1969
Steve Paul’s Scene, W 46th St
New York City, NY, United States
w/ Raven

Billboard Magazine Concert Review April 26, 1969 – The difference in Family was striking. Where the group had been loose, they were together. Where they had been languid, they where sharp. Where they were unsure, they were comfortable.
The Reprise artists displayed the high degree of musicianship that had raised expectations for their first U.S. tour. They were especially good in driving material, such as “The Weaver’s Answer” and “Observations From A Hill.”
Among the strong points were the strange, strong, tremulous voice of Roger Chapman, Rob Townsend on drums, Jim King on saxophone and recorder, Ric Grech on violin and bass guitar and John Whitney on lead guitar. FRED KIRBY

FRIDAY
25 APR 1969
Grande Ballroom, 8952 Grand River Av
Detroit, MI, United States
w/ Canned Heat, Stooges

SATURDAY
26 APR 1969
Grande Ballroom, 8952 Grand River Av
Detroit, MI, United States
w/ Canned Heat, Stooges

• Ric Grech replaced by John Weider during US tour. Weider was flown in from Los Angeles where he was doing session work after his days with Eric Burdon’s New Animals. Peter Grant recommended him to Family and despite being only a guitar and violin player, picked up the bass without any warmups for a few dates in the New York area.

FAMILY Mk III
Roger Chapman: vocals, tenor saxophone, harmonica, percussion
Jim King: tenor and soprano saxophones, harmonica, vocals, tin whistle, piano
Rob Townsend: drums, percussion
John ‘Charlie’ Whitney: guitars, keyboards, mellotron, sitar
John Weider: bass, violin, guitars

FRIDAY-SUNDAY
09-11 MAY 1969
Boston Tea Party, 53 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA, United States
w/ Poco

[media id=2]

xx MAY 1969 
TV BROADCAST (UK): How Late It Is
Lime Grove Studios
Lime Grove, Shepherd’s Bush, London, England

• Dim
   
• also appearing on the episode with w/ Richie Havens, Thunderclap Newman (unconfirmed)

SATURDAY
10 MAY 1969 
TV BROADCAST (UK): Colour Me Pop
BBC Television Centre, 101 Wood Ln
White City, West London, England

• The Weaver’s AnswerThe Weavers Answer
• Observations From A HillObservations From A Hill
• How Hi The LiHow Hi The Li
• ProcessionsProcessions
• A Song For MeA Song For Me

SATURDAY
17 MAY 1969
The Marquee, 90 Wardour Street
Soho, West London, England

SUNDAY
25 MAY 1969
Roundhouse, 100 Chalk Farm Road
Chalk Farm, North West London, England
Fairport Convention benefit w/ Blossom Toes, Eclection, Mick Fleetwood, Pink Floyd, Deviants, John Peel, Pretty Things

FRIDAY
6 JUN 1969
Midnight Court, Lyceum Theatre, Wellington Street
Strand, London, England
w/ Brian Auger Trinity, Andromeda, Screw, Cooper

TUESDAY
10 JUN 1969
The Cherry Tree
Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England

WEDNESDAY
11 JUN 1969
Open Air Free Concert, Midsummer Common
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
w/ David Bowie, Strawbs, Audience, Mandrake Paddle Steamer, Third Ear Band, Screw, Reflection

FRIDAY
13 JUN 1969
Birmingham University
Birmingham, West Midlands, England
w/ Principal Edwards Magic Theater

MONDAY
16 JUN 1969
King’s Head, Romford Market
Romford, England

TUESDAY
17 JUN 1969
The Marquee, 90 Wardour Street
Soho, West London, England
w/ Grail

SATURDAY
21 JUN 1969
University Union
Hull, England
w/ Steam Coffin

MONDAY
23 JUN 1969
The Pavillion
Bath, England

SATURDAY
28 JUN 1969
Sheffield University
Sheffield, England
w/ East of Eden

WEDNESDAY
02 JUL 1969
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore
South Kensington, South West London, England
w/ Incredible String Band, Fairport Convention, John Peel

SATURDAY
05 JUL 1969
Hyde Park
Westminster, London, England
Rolling Stones’ Brian Jones memorial w/ King Crimson, Battered Ornaments, Roy Harper, Third Ear Band, Alexis Korner’s New Church, Screw

05 JUL 1969 (late show)
The Village Roundhouse, Lodge Ave
Dagenham, England

MONDAY
07 JUL 1969
Cooks Ferry Inn
Edmonton, London, England

TUESDAY
15 JUL 1969
Klooks Kleek, Railway Hotel
West Hampstead, North West London, England

SATURDAY
19 JUL 1969
King’s Theatre
Portsmouth, England

MONDAY
21 JUL 1969
Bay Hotel
Sunderland, England

THURSDAY
24 JUL 1969
Van Dike Club
Plymouth, Davenport, England

FRIDAY
25 JUL 1969
Town Hall
Torquay, Devon, England

SATURDAY
26 JUL 1969
Civic Hall
Dunstable, England
w/ Eclection

MONDAY
28 JUL 1969 BBC SESSION: Top Gear
BBC Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue
Charing Cross, West Central London, England
Broadcast: 03 AUG 1969

• Drowned In Wine
• Wheels
• No Mule’s Fool
• The Cat And The Rat

MONDAY
28 JUL 1969
Van Dike Club
Plymouth, Davenport, England

MONDAY
04 AUG 1969
The Marquee, 90 Wardour Street
Soho, West London, England
2 shows at 6:45 and 9:30

TUESDAY
05 AUG 1969
The Marquee, 90 Wardour Street
Soho, West London, England
w/ Samson

SUNDAY
10 AUG 1969
9th National Jazz, Blues & Pop Festival, Plumpton Race Track
East Sussex, England

FRIDAY
15 AUG 1969
Lyceum Theatre, Wellington Street
Strand, London, England
w/ Circus, Grail, Sam Gopal

• 20 AUG 1969 – Billboard
  London, Aug. 19 – London based pop group Family (not to be confused with Family Dog or Family Dogg) is contesting claims being made by two firms over alleged breaches of management, recording and composing agreements.
  Twilight Artists Management, which contends it was appointed sole agent for the group in 1968, is seeking $61,000. Dukes Lodge Enterprises charges that each member of the group assigned it copyright in all compositions made during the five years starting July, 1967, and is claiming $83,000.
  An injunction is also sought to stop the combo making any more recordings until the matter is settled. 

FRIDAY
22 AUG 1969
Lorcano Ballroom
Sunderland, England
w/ Grail

SUNDAY
24 AUG 1969
The Mothers, High Street
Erdington, Birmingham, West Midlands, England

SATURDAY
30 AUG 1969
Isle of Wight Festival, Afton Down Freshwater
Isle of Wight, England

Rob Townsend: “We saw The Who, who were incredible, The Moody Blues, Free and Marsha Hunt. Somehow we got into the press enclosure, even though we didn’t have passes. We were right at the front of the stage, and wouldn’t move. And everyone was anxiously waiting for Bob Dylan. It was a really big thing at the time but as it happens we were slightly disappointed. On the day of our performance it was the sheer number of people that was amazing. There was also a big back stage area and I stood behind Keith Moon, white his roadie little Bob (Pridden) topped up his glass with copious amounts of whisky and coke. Seeing Moonie play so close up was an incredible memory.”

“Within minutes, vocalist Roger Chapman had smashed a microphone to pieces and almost lassooed photographers with the mike lead.  Their entry in the Festival programme says everything, or perhaps nothing!

“We sometimes imagine ourselves to be a tree. Our roots are firmly set amongst us, the trunk resembles our progress and development and the branches are our directions.  At the ends lie the fruits where they are to be taken by the people.”

Watching Family could be unexpectedly dangerous for those in the front row, into which Chapman would often fall, or throw the odd mikestand, in his simulation of an acid trip on stage!  He always claimed afterwards that he could remember nothing of the performance.”

MONDAY
08 SEP 1969
King’s Head, Romford Market
Romford, England

FRIDAY
12 SEP 1969
Mayfair Ballroom
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England

MONDAY
15 SEP 1969
Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre
Central London, England
“An Evening of Family Entertainment” w/ Olly Grey (plate spinner), Rex Roper (bullwhip, strip artist), and others

Roger Chapman: “That was another of Gilbert’s ideas. It was a bit of a damp squib really and something we didn’t learn from ‘cos we tried something similar for Anyway”.

FRIDAY
26 SEP 1969
Pavilion Gardens
Buxton, Derbyshire, England
w/  Fleetwood Mac, John Peel, East Of Eden, Edgar Broughton Band, Glass Menagerie, Spirit Of John Morgan, Grisby Dyke, Radio 1 D.J. John Peel

Charlie Whitney: “We played an indoor place with John Peel. He seemed to be everywhere at the time but was a big aggravated about the PA.” Roger recalls “jumping over the keyboards on my way to the front.”

John Peel: “[Roger’s] hands fluttered like lunatic semaphore flags in a tempest and his voice rasped and shook through the pavilion. They played a half hour of ‘Who Will Sing A Song For Me’. John’s violin solo was superb. In fact they did nothing that wasn’t superb.”

SATURDAY
04 OCT 1969
London School of Economics
London, England
w/ Grail 

TUESDAY
07 OCT 1969
The Marquee, 90 Wardour Street
Soho, West London, England
w/ Stone the Crows, Emily Muff (2 shows at 6:45 and 9:30)

FRIDAY
10 OCT 1969
Salford University
Salford, England
“A Night of Family Entertainment” w/ stars of stage and circus, Climax Chicago Blues Band, Third Ear Band, The Entire Sioux Nation, Killing Floor, The Famous Jug Band, Edison’s Phonograph, Manchester Road, Nova Express Light Show

SUNDAY
12 OCT 1969
The Mothers, High Street
Erdington, Birmingham, West Midlands, England

TUESDAY
14 OCT 1969
Klooks Kleek, Railway Hotel
West Hampstead, North West London, England
w/ Egg

THURSDAY
16 OCT 1969
Royal Philharmonic Hall
Liverpool, Merseyside, England
w/ Third Ear Band, Bridget St. John

FRIDAY
17 OCT 1969 SINGLE RELEASE (#29, UK)

• No Mule’s Fool / Good Friend Of Mine

NME: “A disc that takes a few spins to get into, but well worth it in the end.”

Penny Valentine: “The Best from Family in a long time.”

Melody Maker: “It looks like they are going to make it with ‘No Mule’s Fool’.”

SATURDAY
18 OCT 1969
Lorcano Ballroom
Sunderland, England
w/ Man

SUNDAY
19 OCT 1969
Lyceum Theatre, Wellington Street
Strand, London, England
w/ Steppenwolf (headliner), Spirit of John Morgan, Van der Graaf Generator

MONDAY
20 OCT 1969
Civic Hall
Dunstable, England
w/ Hardin & York

TUESDAY
21 OCT 1969
Palais
Ilford, Essex, England

FRIDAY
24 OCT 1969
Van Dike Club
Plymouth, Davenport, England

THURSDAY
30 OCT 1969
Rex Hotel
Whitley Bay, England
w/ Raw Spirit

SATURDAY
01 NOV 1969
The Village Roundhouse, Lodge Avenue
Dagenham, England

SUNDAY
02 NOV 1969
Colston Hall
Bristol, England

FAMILY Mk IV
Roger Chapman: vocals, tenor saxophone, harmonica, percussion
John ‘Charlie’ Whitney: guitars, keyboards, mellotron, sitar
Rob Townsend: drums, percussion
John Weider: bass, violin, guitars, vocals
Poli Palmer: flute, piano, vibes, synthesizers

FRIDAY
14 NOV 1969
Newcastle City Hall, Northumberland Road
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England
w/ Yes, Blossom Toes

SUNDAY
16 NOV 1969
Fairfield Hall, Park Ln
Croydon, England
w/ Emily Muff

TUESDAY
18 NOV 1969
The Village Roundhouse, Lodge Avenue
Dagenham, England

THURSDAY
20 NOV 1969
Münsterlandhalle
Munster, Germany
w/ Chicken Shack

no images were found

xx NOV 1969
Brondby Popklub
Copenhagen, Denmark

THURSDAY
27 NOV 1969 
TV BROADCAST (DK): Top of the Pops
Studio 3, TV-Byen
Copenhagen, Denmark

• A Song For Me

MONDAY
01 DEC 1969
King’s Head, Romford Market
Romford, England

TUESDAY
02 DEC 1969
The Place
Hanley, Stoke on Trent, England

THURSDAY
04 DEC 1969
De Montford Hall, Granville Road
Leicester, Leicestershire, England

FRIDAY
05 DEC 1969
Midnight Rag Rave, Lyceum Ballroom
Strand, London, England
w/ Atomic Rooster, Edgar Broughton Band, The Spirit of John Morgan, Zoot Money, East Of Eden, Steamhammer

SATURDAY
06 DEC 1969
Manchester University
Manchester, England

SUNDAY
07 DEC 1969
Bradford University
Bradford, England

Mark Knopfler, Yorkshire Post: “Family with their new member ‘Polly’ [sic] on vibes, flute and piano were quite outstanding. Singer Roger Chapman seems happier than usual – so did everyone else come to that. Rob Townsend on his distinctive yellow drum kit charged along, a real little powerhouse, and certainly one of the finest drummers. Bass player John Weider proved again that he is an excellent guitarist and in another lengthy duologue with Townsend, showed off his skill on violin.”

MONDAY
08 DEC 1969
King’s Head, Romford Market
Romford, England

TUESDAY
09 DEC 1969
Wolverhampton Civic Hall, North St
Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England
w/ Georgie Fame, Barclay James Harvest

WEDNESDAY
10 DEC 1969
Reading University
Reading, England

FRIDAY
12 DEC 1969
Hull University
Hull, England

SUNDAY
14 DEC 1969
Argus Butterfly Pub, York Road
Peterlee, England

FRIDAY
19 DEC 1969
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore
South Kensington, South West London, England
Shelter Benefit w/ Graham Bond, Sam Apple Pie, John Peel

SATURDAY
20 DEC 1969
King George’s Hall, Blackburn University
Blackburn, Englan
w/ Quintessence, Grisby Dike

MONDAY
22 DEC 1969
Brighton Dome, Church Street
Brighton, East Sussex, England
w/ Emily Muff

TUESDAY
23 DEC 1969
Victoria Ballroom
Chesterfield, England

xx DEC 1969
TV BROADCAST (NL)
AVRO-TV Studios
Hilversum, The Netherlands

• No Mule’s Fool

WEDNESDAY
31 DEC 1969
The Marquee, 90 Wardour Street
Soho, West London, England
w/ Audience, Skin Alley, Emily Muff