Places   (Help with places, streets and buildings in Wigan.)

I remember Fairport Convention playing on Ainsdale Beach back in 1971. Sadly I’d spent my wage allowance for the week and couldn’t afford the train fare. I remember Steeleye Span playing at Rivington, but I believe it was just for a TV video.
Bolton had a mini festival in one of the parks in 1971 or 72. Just local bands but an excellent band called Iron Maiden (not THE Iron Maiden) played. They were later at the FAG at the Newtown British Legion. Good drummer who was also the singer. If I remember, they did a great version of Spirit’s ‘Fresh Garbage’.
Does anyone remember the local gig at Red Rock on the old railway cutting in 74? It had a make-shift stage and the electricity was provided by a series of extensions fitted together and plugged into a 13amp socket in one of the cottages on the canal. Just put together by some of the Market Hotel crowd. I think Malc MacKinder might have been the brainchild behind it.
I had an idea in 76 to do something similar at the Scotsman’s Flash, mainly acoustic but also with a generator should anyone wish to bring an amp. Quite a few mates were in favour of this, but probably because they were drunk… the enthusiasm fizzled out a couple of weeks later. I’d have asked Bob Flight to play there (remember him?). He was pretty good on acoustic and a good voice too.