1970

THURSDAY
01 JAN 1970
BBC SESSION: John Peel’s Sunday Show
England, London, BBC Paris Cinema

• Set includes only two live performances “93’s OK J” and “Here Comes The Grin,” officially released in BBC Sessions Vol. 3; other songs played are the same as the album versions from A Song For Me. Tyrannosaurus Rex filled in for the rest of the show due to Roger Chapman being sick with the flu.

06/07/08? JAN 1970
Underground Music Festival – Operation 666, L’Olympia Theatre, 28 Boulevard des Capucines
France, Paris

SATURDAY
10 JAN 1970
Polytechnic College Union
Lanchester, Coventry, England

THURSDAY
15 JAN 1970
Portsmouth Guildhall
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

• canceled due to equipment van breaking down

FRIDAY
23 JAN 1970 
ALBUM RELEASE A Song For Me (#4, UK)
23 JAN 1970
Locarno
Sunderland, England
w/ Emily Muff

MONDAY
26 JAN 1970
Civic Hall
Dunstable, England

FRIDAY
30 JAN 1970
Leeds Polytechnic University
Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
w/ Nice, Emily Muff, Chicken Shack, Tinkers 

THURSDAY
05 FEB 1970
Portsmouth Guildhall
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

FRIDAY
06 FEB 1970
Caley Cinema
Edinburgh, Scotland

SATURDAY
07 FEB 1970
Music Hall
Aberdeen, England

SUNDAY
08 FEB 1970
Kinema Ballroom
Dunfermline, England
w/ The Change

TUESDAY
10 FEB 1970
Dundee Technical College
Dundee, England

SUNDAY
15 FEB 1970
Lyceum Theatre, Wellington Street
Strand, London, England

SATURDAY
28 FEB 1970
Village Roundhouse
Dagenham, East London, England
w/ Stackridge

xx FEB 1970 
TV SESSION (France): Tous En Scène
France, Paris, Antenne Culturelle du Kremlin-Bicêtre
Broadcast: (Saturday) 23 MAR 1970

• Drowned In Wine
• Love Is A Sleeper
   
  
• also appearing on the episode Emmanuel Booz, Eddy Mitchell, Francoise Hardy

SPRING US TOUR

THURSDAY-SATURDAY
5-7 MAR 1970
Boston Tea Party, 53 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA, United States
w/ MC5, Stone The Crows

TUESDAY-THURSDAY
10-12 MAR 1970
Ungano’s, 210 W 70th St
New York, NY, United States
w/ Pookah 

FRIDAY-SATURDAY
13-14 MAR 1970
Unknown venue
Detroit, MI, United States (unconfirmed)

FRIDAY-SATURDAY
20-21 MAR 1970
Palladium
Birmingham, MI, United States

SUNDAY
22 MAR 1970
Unknown venue
Houston, TX, United States

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY
23-25 MAR 1970
Unknown venue
Los Angeles, CA, United States  (unconfirmed)

THURSDAY
26 MAR 1970
Fillmore West, 10 South Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA, United States
w/ Chicago, James Cotton Blues Band, Fritz (feat. Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham)

FRIDAY-SATURDAY
27-28 MAR 1970
Winterland
San Francisco, CA, United States
w/ Chicago, James Cotton Blues Band, Fritz (feat. Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham)

SUNDAY
29 MAR 1970
Fillmore West, 10 South Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA, United States
w/ Chicago, James Cotton Blues Band, Fritz (feat. Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham)

THURSDAY-FRIDAY
1-3 APR 1970
Ungano’s, 210 W 70th St
New York, NY, United States

SATURDAY
4 APR 1970
Assumption College
Worcester, MA, United States

SUNDAY
5 APR 1970
Lewiston Armory/Bates College
Lewiston, ME, United States
w/ Savoy Brown, The Nice

THURSDAY
9 APR 1970
Buffalo State
Buffalo, NY, United States

FRIDAY
10 APR 1970
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY, United States

FRIDAY
10 APR 1970
Baily Hall, Cornell University
Ithaca, New York, United States
w/ Savoy Brown, The Nice

SATURDAY
11 APR 1970
Baily Hall, Cornell University
Ithaca, New York, United States
w/ Savoy Brown, Triumph

SUNDAY
12 APR 1970
Union College
Albany, NY, United States

THURSDAY
16 APR 1970
Northeastern University
Boston, MA, United States

16 APR 1970
TV BROADCAST (DK): The Beat Goes On II – Popklubben
Brøndby Pop Club (record date Nov 22, 1969)
Brøndby, Nørregård Hallen, Denmark
w/ Burning Red Ivanhoe

FRIDAY
17 APR 1970
Fairfield College
East Hartford, CT, United States

SATURDAY
18 APR 1970
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY, United States
w/ Savoy Brown Blues Band, The Nice

Fan recollection: “One of the great triple bills from ‘70, still trading on the English Invasion angle that was becoming a distant marketing ploy. No problem here. My friends and I ate it up. Couldn’t leave early enough that morning to make a day of hanging out on the campus, pretending to be college kids. The serious Anglofiles, crowded onto the entrance steps for a solid few hours prior to doors provided the ultimate social scene. Everyone opinion-ing and bragging about one record after the other. It was almost as much fun as the show. I think it was well attended; up front there was no looking back.We were not ready for the power of Family. I’d only seen their albums in the store, never heard them and as much as I wanted ownership of at least one record, some other title always took their purchase slot. This was my favorite lineup, having become obsessed as a result of the show and then seeing them many times. Poli Palmer on xylophone most of the night, a stunning player. And John Weider on guitars and violin. It was the first band I saw playing any of these instruments (except Brian Jones on vibes during ‘Under My Thumb’), not to mention changing them up for each song. The ace in the deck for Family was always Roger Chapman. Definitely an acquired taste vocally, you still seldom see a madman like him, totally possessed. Once you experienced Family in person, their recordings made perfect sense, vividly bringing back his on stage intensity. They couldn’t catch a break in The States. Bill Graham banned them from The Fillmores. Don’t know  why. This particular night the audience was into it, but a few years later, opening for Elton John, things didn’t work out the same. I remember many of the crowd booing. I couldn’t believe such a sophisticated group of great musicians were being booed. I was embarrassed. But the band tore threw it unflinched. This was ‘72. Sadly it was to be the last time they toured the US. Props to Elton John for having them.”

SUNDAY
19 APR 1970
Yale University
New Haven, CT, United States

Melody Maker – April 21, 1970 “Blind Date” w/ Alvin Lee
FAMILY: 
“Holding The Compass” from the Warner-Reprise album “Anyway.” 
Alvin Comments: 
Oh, it’s a live recording, is it? (As soon as the voice comes in). Ha Ha, it’s young Roger Chapman. Family are one of my favourites. I was knocked out by that first record they did—what was it? “Music In A Doll’s House.” Actually, I recorded them live in Copenhagen some time ago on me tape recorder, but it wasn’t as good as this. They’re great in stereo, they wipe me out. I’ve also got a film of them at the Isle Of Wight, this year. In fact, I got thrown out of the enclosure for doing it. 
Family really are far out. Chris Wright, as well—you know, at Chrysalis—has got a film of Roger Chapman smashing up his mike.

THURSDAY
23 APR 1970
Upsala College
East Orange, NJ, United States

FRIDAY
24 APR 1970
Trenton State College
Trenton, NJ, United States

SATURDAY
25 APR 1970
King’s College
Wilkes-Barre, PA, United States

SUNDAY
26 APR 1970
Queensborough Community College
Bayside, NY, United States

xx APR 1970
United States, Chicago, IL

TUESDAY
28 APR 1970
Carnegie Hall
New York, NY, United States
w/ Peter Paul & Mary, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie

APR 1970
SINGLE RELEASE (did not chart)

• Today / Song For Lots

FRIDAY
01 MAY 1970
Lyceum Theatre, Wellington Street
Strand, London, England

SATURDAY
02 MAY 1970
Camden Rock Festival at Roundhouse
Chalk Farm, London, England
w/ Taste, Egg, Gypsy

SATURDAY
09 MAY 1970
TV BROADCAST (UK): Disco 2
BBC Television Centre, 101 Wood Ln
White City, West London, England

• also appearing in the episode were the Groundhogs

SATURDAY
16 MAY 1970
Joint Meeting, Eisstadion
Düsseldorf, Germany

WEDNESDAY
20 MAY 1970
Birmingham Town Hall, Victoria Square
Birmingham, West Midlands, England

THURSDAY
21 MAY 1970
Sheffield City Hall, Barker’s Pool
Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

SATURDAY
23 MAY 1970
Hollywood Music Festival
near Newcastle-under-Lyme, Madeley, Leycett, England
w/ Ginger Baker’s Airforce, Tony Joe White, Mike Cooper, Titus Groan, Mungo Jerry, Screaming Lord Sutch, Trader Horne, Demon Fuzz

• Wheels
• How Hi The Li
• Strange Band
• A Song For Me
• Love Is A Sleeper

NME Reports: Family went on stage to a fantastic ovation that had even the hardened journalists climbing over scaffolding to see what was going on.
It’s about time this fine group got the recognition they so rightly deserve and Hollywood could be just what they needed. Family’s Roger Chapman really does freak out on stage, waving his sweater round and round his head, rolling and rocking about  the stage , knocking the mike stand for six and shaking his bands about in such the manner of Joe Cocker. Strangely, none of this detracts from the music and if anything, makes it all the more exciting and original.
The act consisted mostly of album tracks, “A Song For Me” being particularly good. The title song from the third LP, it raced along and included a nice section of violin playing by Johnny Weider and Rob Townsend excelling on drums.
A first rate performance.

Music Now reports: Family also suffered from the fact that only a third of the final crowd had arrived when they went on-stage. Thousands were still driving, hitching or walking the last few miles to the farm. Some had arrived as early as Thursday afternoon, but many more were still on their way. The main feature of Family’s set was the way that their music has changed, opened out, with the arrival of John Palmer on flute and vibes. Their recent American tour obviously had ironed out all of their teething problems.

Roger Chapman is still as fascinating as ever, his vocals sounding even more agonized these days. They did things like “Wheels” and “How High The Li” [sic] during which Palmer did some nice work on vibes. I liked the new song, “Strange Band” but “Song For Me”  left me cold. It was very long, with everyone taking a solo spot. It seemed like a lot of waffling was going on. Still the crowd liked it and they were called back to do another song ‘Love Is A Sleeper.” The new Family did alright.

SUNDAY
24 MAY 1970
Mecca
Bristol, England

TUESDAY
26 MAY 1970
Newcastle City Hall, Northumberland Road
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England
cancelled due to illness

WEDNESDAY
27 MAY 1970
Philharmonic Hall
Liverpool, Merseyside, England

THURSDAY
28 MAY 1970
De Montford Hall, Granville Road
Leicester, Leicestershire, England

MONDAY
01 JUN 1970
Guildford Civic Hall, London Rd
Guildford, Surrey, England

FRIDAY
05 JUN 1970
Temple Of Peace, Green’s Playhouse
Glasgow, Scotland
w/ Black Sabbath, Chicken Shack

SATURDAY
06 JUN 1970
Usher Hall
Edinburgh, Scotland
w/ Black Sabbath, Chicken Shack

SUNDAY
07 JUN 1970
Groovesville Wake Arms
Epping, England
w/ Black Sabbath, Chicken Shack

MONDAY
08 JUN 1970
Music Hall
Aberdeen, Scotland
w/ Black Sabbath, Chicken Shack

FRIDAY
12 JUN 1970
Locarno Ballroom, Bay Hotel, Fillmore North
Sunderland, England

SUNDAY
14 JUN 1970
The Mothers, High Street
Erdington, Birmingham, West Midlands, England
JUN 1970
TV SESSION (DE): Beat Club
Radio Bremen
Germany, Bremen
First broadcast: (Saturday) 27 JUN 1970 episode no. 56

• The Weaver’s Answer
   
  
• also appearing on the episode Van der Graaf Generator, Brinsley Schwartz, Santana, Mungo Jerry

SATURDAY
20 JUN 1970
Open Air Rock Circus, Radstadion
Frankfurt, Germany
w/ Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, The Byrds, Edgar Broughton Band, Steamhammer, Badfinger, Chicken Shack, Jackie Lomax, Chuck Berry, Nosferatu, Screaming Lord Sutch, Bo Diddley, Heavy Jelly, Little Free Rock, and Ashton Gardner & Dyke

SUNDAY
21 JUN 1970
Hamburg Open Air Pop Festival aka Big Gig Festival, Derbyplatz Klein Flottbek
Hamburg, Germany
w/ Black Sabbath, Colosseum, Rare Bird, Humble Pie, Uriah Heep, Gentle Giant, Mungo Jerry

TUESDAY
23 JUN 1970
Commemoration Ball, St. Johns & Trinity Colleges
Oxford, England
w/ The Moody Blues, Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Fotheringay

 

xx-JUN 1970
Paris?

SATURDAY
27 JUN 1970
Rotterdam Pop Festival, Kralingen Park
Rotterdam, The Netherlands

• Setlist includes “Drowned In Wine” which appears in Stamping Ground film.

SUNDAY
28 JUN 1970 Festival Of The Golden Guitar, Village Square
Ciney, Belgium
w/ The Greatest Show On Earth, Arkham, Opus, Waterloo, Brainbox

25 JUL 1970
Nottingham Festival Of Blues And Progressive Music, Victoria Embankment
Nottingham, England
w/ Taste, Atomic Rooster, Jody Grind, Anno Domini, Mungo Jerry, Deep Joy

• The Weaver’s Answer
• Anyway
• Drowned In Wine
• Wheels
• Strange Band
• A Song For Me

26 JUL 1970
Fairfield Hall, Park Ln
Croydon, England

• Concert recorded for Anyway, and pro-shot video (unconfirmed, unreleased)
• Setlist includes “Good News Bad News”, “Willow Tree”, “Holding The Compass”, “Strange Band”, “Drowned In Wine”, “A Song For Me”, “Wheels”, “Here Comes The Grin”, “The Weaver’s Answer”

31 JUL 1970
MAXI-SINGLE RELEASE  (#11, UK)

• Strange Band / The Weaver’s Answer / Hung Up Down

01 AUG 1970
Progressive Music Festival, Château de Saint-Pons
Aix-en-Provence, France

07 AUG 1970
10th National Jazz, Pop, Ballads and Blues Festival, Plumpton Race Track
Streat, East Sussex, England

• Strange Band
• Good News, Bad News
• Holding The Compass
• Wheels
• Drowned In Wine
• A Song For Me
• The Weaver’s Answer

w/ Groundhogs, Rare Bird, Steamhammer, Daddy Longlegs, Patto, Clark-Hutchinson

Being the final act, Family had to work extremely hard to follow Steamhammer. Family must be one of the very few bands to which the terminology “original” has any real significance. Roger Chapman’s maniacal mannerisms and braying vibrato are the visual focal point of their performance, yet they never distract from the industrious playing of the entire band. Commencing with “Strange Band” they worked their way through “Bad News,” “Hole In The Compass,” [sic] “Wheels,” “Drown In Wine,” [sic] finally catching fire in “A Song For You.” [sic] During their encore, “The Weaver’s Answer,” a very mischievous Roger waved a red towel before banishing the mike about to which we all cheered and then trundled off into the night.
-Unknown press clipping

10 AUG 1970 
BBC SESSION: Top Gear
BBC Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue
Charing Cross, West Central London, England
First broadcast: 05 SEP 1970

• Holding The Compass
• Lives And Ladies
• Good News Bad News

THURSDAY
13 AUG 1970
Van Dike Club
Plymouth, Davenport, England

FRIDAY
14 AUG 1970
Marquay Club, Torquay Town Hall
Torquay, Devon, England
w/ Bram Stoker, Relation, Howitzer

SATURDAY
15 AUG 1970
Winter Gardens
Weston-super-Mare, England

FRIDAY
21 AUG 1970
Ruisrock Music Week Festival
Turku, Finland
w/ Daddy Longlegs, Colosseum, Blue Mink, Argent, Made In Sweden

The music couldn’t have been better. British groups were the highlights. Family got screams of approval and were adored for 90 minutes on the first night.

THURSDAY
27 AUG 1970
TV SESSION (UK): Top Of The Pops
BBC Television Centre, 101 Wood Ln
White City, West London, England

• The Weaver’s Answer

28 AUG 1970
Isle of Wight Festival, Afton Down Freshwater
Isle of Wight, England

• Processions
• A Song For Me
• Drowned In Wine
• Good News Bad News
• Strange BandStrange Band
• The Weaver’s AnswerThe Weaver’s Answer

xx AUG or SEPT 1970
TV SESSION (Holland): TopPop

• The Weaver’s Answer

FRIDAY
25 SEP 1970
TV BROADCAST (UK): Doing Their Thing
Granada Studios, Quay Street
Manchester, Lancashire, England

• Good News Bad News
• Drowned In Wine
• Processions/No Mule’s Fool
• Strange Band
• Holding The Compass (over credits)

SATURDAY
26 SEP 1970
The Village Roundhouse
Dagenham, East London, England

SUNDAY
27 SEP 1970
BBC SESSION: John Peel’s Sunday Show
BBC Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue
Charing Cross, West Central London, England

• Good News Bad News
• Drowned In Wine
• Wheels
• Processions/No Mule’s Fool
• Holding The Compass
• Lives And Ladies
• Strange Band
• The Weaver’s Answer
• Blow By Blow
   
  
• officially released on Family – BBC Sessions Vol. 3: 1970 by Hux Records. 

MONDAY
28 SEP 1970
Civic Hall
Queensway, Dunstable, England

SATURDAY
03 OCT 1970
Bromley Tech College
Bromley, England
w/ Julian’s Treatment

FRIDAY
09 OCT 1970
Corn Exchange
Devizes, Wiltshire, England

MONDAY
12 OCT 1970
Civic Hall
Queensway, Dunstable, England

THURSDAY
15 OCT 1970
Hull City Hall
Hull, England

FRIDAY
16 OCT 1970
University Of Lancaster
Lancaster, England
w/ Nothineverappens, Urban Gorilla, Pink Custard

SATURDAY
17 OCT 1970
Starlight Room, Gliderdome
Boston, England
w/ Quiver

THURSDAY
22 OCT 1970
Keynes College, University of Kent
Canterbury, England
w/ Tír Na Nóg

TUESDAY
27 OCT 1970
Arenberg
Antwerp, Belgium

WEDNESDAY
28 OCT 1970
Trocadero
Liège, Belgium

FRIDAY
30 OCT 1970
Schaerbeek Theater
Schaerbeek, Belgium

SATURDAY
31 OCT 1970
Schaerbeek Theater
Schaerbeek, Belgium

31 OCT 1970
TV BROADCAST (France): POP2

• Concert excerpts of “Good News, bad NewsGood News Bad News,” “Processions/No Mule’s FoolProcessions/No Mule’s Fool” and “The Weaver’s AnswerThe Weaver’s Answer” from concert at Olympia Tavern, Paris, France (exact date unknown).

NOV 1970
ALBUM RELEASE Anyway (#7, UK)

SATURDAY
07 NOV 1970
Circus Krone, Marsstraße 43
Munich, Germany

• Part Of The LoadPart Of The Load
• Drowned In WineDrowned In Wine
• Processions/No Mule’s FoolProcessions/No Mule’s Fool
• Holding The CompassHolding The Compass
• Good News, Bad NewsGood News Bad News
• The Weaver’s AnswerThe Weaver’s Answer
• A Song For MeA Song For Me

xx NOV 1970
Switzerland (unconfirmed)

FRIDAY
13 NOV 1970
Green’s Playhouse
Glasgow, Scotland

SATURDAY
14 NOV 1970
Leeds University
Leeds, West Yorkshire, England

SUNDAY
15 NOV 1970
Newcastle City Hall
Newcastle upon Tyne, England

MONDAY
16 NOV 1970
The Free Trade Hall
Manchester, Lancashire, England

THURSDAY
19 NOV 1970
Sophia Gardens Pavilion
Cardiff, Wales

FRIDAY
20 NOV 1970
Colston Hall
Bristol, England

SATURDAY
21 NOV 1970
Winter Gardens
Bournesmouth, England

MONDAY
23 NOV 1970
Portsmouth Guildhall
Hampshire, Portsmouth, England

TUESDAY
24 NOV 1970
Sheffield City Hall, Barker’s Pool
Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

WEDNESDAY
25 NOV 1970
St. George’s Hall, St George’s Pl
Liverpool, Merseyside, England

FRIDAY
27 NOV 1970
Birmingham Town Hall, Victoria Square
Birmingham, West Midlands, England

SATURDAY
28 NOV 1970
Brighton Dome, Church Street
Brighton, East Sussex, England

MONDAY
30 NOV 1970
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore
South Kensington, South West London, England

TUESDAY
01 DEC 1970
De Montford Hall, Granville Road
Leicester, Leicestershire, England

SATURDAY
05 DEC 1970
Birmingham Town Hall, Victoria Square
Birmingham, West Midlands, England

• Anyway
• Normans
• Part Of The Load
• A Song For Me
• Processions/No Mule’s Fool
• Good News, Bad News
• The Weaver’s Answer

xx DEC 1970
Scandinavia, Switzerland & France tour

SATURDAY
12 DEC 1970
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore
South Kensington, South West London, England

• Anyway
• Some Poor Soul
• Normans
• Lives And Ladies
• Holding The Compass
• Part Of The Load
• Drowned In Wine
• Processions/No Mule’s Fool
• Good News, Bad News
• The Weaver’s Answer
• A Song For Me
• Strange Band

FRIDAY
18 DEC 1970
Victoria Hall
Stoke-on-Trent, England

SUNDAY
20 DEC 1970
Lyceum Theatre, Wellington Street
Strand, London, England
w/ Quiver