Joe Meek Festival in Newent

Joe Meek’s sounds of the 1960s will be commemorated at an annual Newent festival, for one-day-only this October 2010.

Newent Community School will be hosting a tribute concert to celebrate the life of legendary local English record producer and songwriter, Joe Meek – forming the basis of the Joe Meek Festival 2010.

The concert will feature rock and roll band The Flames, Solent City Sound DJ and singer John Leyton, whose hit record Johnny Remember Me was produced by Meek.

Meek was particularly notable as a producing phenomenon, since he was widely known to be tone deaf. His most remembered work was on The Tornados hit record Telstar, but he also produced for Lonnie Donegan and worked on music for films.

The concept album he produced is said to have been admired for its groundbreaking use of electronic sounds and he continued to produce until his controversial death in 1967, on 3 February – coinciding with hero Buddy Holly’s death on the same day eight years earlier.

During the day there will be stalls, refreshments, music and dancers in the Newent Memorial Hall, as well as Meek memorabilia and information about his music and love of vintage cars.

Children will also be able to get involved and take part in a spot-the-record competition and music history enthusiasts should find the event an interesting insight into the life and work of this 60s sound man, and Forest of Dean legend.