On Track For Summer to celebrate 50th anniversary of Windsor rock festival

On Track For Summer 2016

Saturday 23rd to Sunday 24th July 2016
Windsor Racecourse, Maidenhead Road, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 5JJ, England MAP
from £60 for the weekend

Daily capacity: 7,500

Last updated: Mon 24th Apr 2017

A new two day event has been announced celebrating the 50th anniversary of Windsor rock festival, On Track For Summer is being held at the same venue, the Royal Windsor Racecourse, over the weekend of Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th 2016.

In 1966 the sixth National Jazz and Blues Festival at Windsor happened, considered to be the first proper rock festival. This was the precursor of the Isle of Wight, Glastonbury, Monterey and Woodstock. The line up in that critical year moved from being blues and jazz to bands like The Who, the Small Faces and the Yardbirds featuring Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. Not to mention the first unveiling of a trio with as yet no name - comprising Eric, Ginger and Jack. They became world-beaters as Cream and there will be a special presentation to the one and only Ginger Baker and his family to mark this unique anniversary. As a festival it was a major innovation.

While Saturday is dedicated to the original artists who made it all happen, Sunday July 24 sees a more contemporary concert. A chance to simply enjoy and celebrate the Summer of 2016. On Saturday there will be a celebrity studded tribute to Bowie topped with a presentation to the charity by 1966 World Cup winner George Cohen.

However, there is more to the weekend than just nostalgia, good vibes and terrific music. Funds are also being raised in support of Macmillan Cancer Support to help ensure no one faces cancer alone. Macmillan recently hit the No 1 spot in the charts with Rick Wakeman's version of Life on Mars.

Saturday's line-up will feature Donovan, The Manfreds, Ginger Bakers Jazz Confusion, Chris Farlowe, PP Arnold, The Move, Cliff Bennett, Davy O'List, Beth Rowley, The Norman Beaker Band, Molly Marriott, and The cast of the Small Faces' All Or Nothing, and Ray Davies' Sunny Afternoon.

Appearing on Sunday will be Squeeze, The Feeling, Quantic, Flook, and Heath, plus a special US Star to be announced (for contractual reasons) but this multi platinum-selling star will be at Windsor performing his only UK festival date this year.

Tickets for the weekend go on sale soon, and eFestivals will have links here to but them then. Single day tickets start at £39 with ‘early bird’ weekend passes from £60.

This summer concert goers are being encouraged to dress in the style of the times and be dedicated followers of a time of freedom and abandon...to make it a real 50th birthday party!

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