Plans to celebrate 50th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix’s Dereham show make progress

A poster advertising the Jimi Hendrix concert in Dereham. (Image: Archant)

Hendrix tribute band Purple Jimi has been booked to play at The Railway Tavern in Dereham on October 7, the date which The Jimi Hendrix Experience performed at The Wellington Club, in Dereham Market Place, in 1967.

Norfolk Blues Society is also looking to take part in the celebration and further talks will be held about what can be done to celebrate arguably the most famous day in Dereham's musical history.

Paul Sandford, owner of The Railway Tavern, said: 'We knew the anniversary was coming up and have been planning this for a few months.

'The Wellington Club, was originally The Tavern Club, so it seems appropriate to do something here.

Stewart Aitken, from the Norfolk Blues Society. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant � 2013)

'There are a lot of people still living in the area who were around at the time of the concert, 50 years ago, and there has been a lot of interest in doing something.

'We want to work with the Norfolk Blues Society to see what else can be done.'

There has been talk of running a weekend festival with Hendrix tribute bands playing at several venues around Dereham, including The Metro - the same building in which Hendrix played.

Other suggestions are for people to wear 1960s fancy dress, for screenings of archive Hendrix footage and for Hendrix memorabilia to be put on display.

Paul Sandford owner of The Railway Tavern in Dereham. Picture: Ian Burt

Norfolk Blues Society founder Stewart Aitken, said: 'It would be great to get the whole town involved - to have 1960s hippy fancy dress and to evoke the whole feel of Hendrix.

'The fact that October 7 will be a Saturday - as it was in 1967 - suggests that something like this was meant to happen.'

Anyone wanting to get involved can contact Mr Aitken on 01362 860491 or 07703 737014.