Memory Of A Free Festival

The song 'Memory Of A Free Festival,' was inspired by the festival David Bowie organised, that was held at the Beckenham Recreation Ground in the summer of 1969.
It has been considered to be an idealised version of the event, and it is the case that no account that I'm aware of has mentioned anything about anyone having seen "machines of every shape and size" in the sky during the course of the event, or indeed anything unusual in the sky.
The song describes a "sun machine" coming down, and the people at the festival speaking with "tall Venusians passing through," before their craft soars away up through the clouds.

Ten years before the Beckenham Free Festival took place in London, in July 1959, Howard Menger's book 'From Outer Space To You' was first published by Gray Barker's Saucerian Books.
Part 2 of the book begins with a chapter entitled 'A Profound Space Teacher,' that relates a visit Howard Menger received from Extraterrestrials, who transmitted important knowledge to him.
In the excerpt that follows you will see that Mr.Menger's account has quite a lot in common with the otherworldly aspects of David Bowie's song 'Memory Of A Free Festival.'

In late August, 1956, I had what was perhaps the most memorable meeting of all when I was privileged to meet one of the most advanced beings from another planet.
I went to Field Location No.1 just at sunset, and the craft, coming in from the west, looked like a huge sun descending from the sky.
I remembered hearing the accounts told of the Miracle of Fatima. Witnesses had described a huge fiery ball, which they thought was the sun, moving in the sky, as if headed for earth. I wondered if there had been some connection with the space people.
This craft appeared much different than the usual type. In fact I smiled to myself as I noted it looked like an inverted translucent china cup (however, without handle!) set into a saucer. This hip was larger than the others and had portholes in series of four. Like our own aircraft, the vehicles used by the space people are of many different types and designs.
When it landed I walked to within a hundred feet of it when two men stepped out of it and waited, one on each side of the door. I sensed something important and unusual was about to take place. I walked closer, then stopped, waiting for a feeling or sense which would indicate it was all right to proceed further.
Then a magnificent sight appeared in the doorway. A tall handsome man with long blond hair over his shoulders stood towering at the entrance. He looked directly at me as he stepped out of the ship.......

Howard Menger & David Bowie