I was standing about 20 feet from them while Crosby was screaming this is a f-n pop festival! Johnny Winter did play, Rollin and Tumblin for one. Okay! Remember it all like yesterday! We had the best time of our lives. The festival will take place March 31-April 2nd, 2023, at Palisades Tahoe. Michigan governor William Milliken denounced the "deplorable and open sale and use of drugs" at the festival, and called for investigation and prosecution of the "drug pushers" who were present. . Had no idea what was going on until the back door opened and there stood two NJ State Troopers. In the evening both CCR and Jefferson Airplane played by the speakers werent working and John Fogerty was ramming his guitar them and the sound didnt improve. The next night after Mike Bloomfield and Harvey Mandel jammed with Canned Heat, both were offered Vestine's spot in the band's line-up, which Mandel accepted) Line-up: (July 29, 1969 - May 1970) Bob (The Bear) Hite - vocals, harp. No one mentioned Miles Davis. Can anyone else remember any other bands that played on Sunday. No that would be illegal! Of course, a cloud of smoke had whooshed out the door when the troopers had opened it. Thats when people started booing. The initial attitude of the "young, hip police force"[2] toward the fans in attendance was to "leave them alone", at least when they were inside the festival grounds. [5], Those who attended were provided free campsites, free parking and free firewood. Mr. Tamarkin, your article brings back memories of this incredible concert that I had nearly forgotten. And were among those who camped outside of the fence. I remember that, at one point, we were rumbling down the New Jersey Turnpike when suddenly, the truck slowed, pulled to the side of the road and ground to a halt. The Woodstock Music Festival began on August 15, 1969 in Bethel, New York. I let my part=timers at Wawa go to Woodstock and the tradeoff was my going to AC. Only shaky, amateur-shot 8mm silent-film clips are found on YouTube. Yes, thats exactly how I remember her set. Really cool band named AUM stood out as well. Robert Wilkins, John Fahey, Southern Fife and Drum Corps, Booker T. and the MGs, Moloch, Casietta George, Sid Selvidge, Soldiers of the Cross, Robert Pete Williams, Rev. He was running across the roofs and hoods of the gridlocked cars. Some of the same bands CCR and Procol Harum stood out for me but there were so many great performances. But nothing was as bad as the foretellers of doom had predicted. [Vancouver Sun], San Jose State University football practice field. I often tell people that it was probably better than Woodstock, because many of the same people were there, and the sound system worked, plus I had a seat with some protection form the rain. The people from outside the stadium were let in and took seats in the South Stands of the old Mile High Stadium. [2], Before the festival, concerned local officials sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the event, but a judge denied the request. I still have the scar and fine memories of the music and lightshow from that weekend. His first book was 'Got a Revolution! I have referred to it often as the precursor to Woodstock. A tragedy that it wasnt filmed or recorded. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Grass Lake 119 North Lake Street Grass Lake, MI 49240. The organizers would not let them play. Come visit the village of Grass Lake! When the festival was first being put together,Led Zeppelin was still gaining momentum. And Janis said she would sing to stop the rain, and it did stop. Thats exactly how I remember it too, Alby. Total attendance of about 45,000. The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this entry. Im English was working at Shelburne Hotel on the Boardwalk and one of the guys had a car. One thing for sure is that it all ended on the evening of Sunday, August 3, 1969, with Janis Joplin joining Little Richard onstage for a memorably rockin finale. What you need to know. I have some 8mm footage thats not great but Id have to dig it out. I have always been able to watch this performance in my head. Concert was great. Tickets cost 18/6. An Aquarian Exposition: Three Days of Peace and Music, was a three-day concert (which managed to roll into a fourth day) that took place on August 15 through 18, 1969, at Max Yasgur's dairy farm in the town of Bethel just outside White Lake, New York. The third act was a Philadelphia band American Dream who had Al Cooper playing with them that day. Despite a poor sound system, a lack of food, water, and restrooms, and brutal security by the Hells Angels, it was deemed a resounding success by the attendees and musicians. TICKETS . Appropriately enough this event was at a stock car track. In fact, apart from McGuinn I dont know that any of the original members were still in the band at that point. Amazingly, they just shook their heads then let us move on. So, kind of like the Laura Nyro scenario at Monterey, right?? Attendance. Remember Janis, Cocker & Little Richard. I was there and will never forget it.. Inna godda davita went on for hours it seemed with streamers of toilet paper flying .I had a front seat to the show , I was there & have told many people that it was the Woodstock prequel but better due to the amazing lineup of artists, and most people think I am crazy because it has been largely lost to the dustbin of history. Of course it WAS 48 years ago! Every penny counts! I was there with a friend! The few of us who did this festival and then did Woodstock had a rude shock coming.we went from the best organized rock festival in the era to one of if not the worst one two weeks later. I didnt know about a lot of these that summer. Photo from Duane Blalock. Thanks for this article. Circumstances dictated the change. The Doors arrived only minutes before taking the stage and played an extended set (70 minutes instead of 45 minutes) to make up for the missing bands. Due to the tremendous support of local agencies, foundations, businesses, and individual donors coupled with the diligent efforts of our volunteer board of directors, committees and volunteers, our yearly event becomes a memorable reality, and a pure grassroots extravaganza! Well, over the 4th of July weekend, 1969 There was the Newport Jazz Festival. I wanted to see The Moody Blues scheduled for Sunday night. I was there, too and remember Joni very well. We came late because she was was working that night at the Dairy Barn in Woodbury Heights so we only saw a couple of bands. Blues singer Mississippi Fred McDowell was never advertised yet some accounts show him as having been there. Outside of Michigan maybe no-one has ever heard of Goose Lake, but it was A Big Deal. (I missed the one flight out to go see LefZeppelen @ Torontos ROCKPILE [stayed 4 Hendrix]. Hendrix wasnt there a few other Woodstock greats, but in all, it was about the same show for all 3 days complete with thunderstorms, rain & lotsa soggy people & sleeping bags! The Festival will officially begin Friday June 6 and Saturday June 7, 1969 with three daytime concerts and two evening concerts all in the Overton Park Shell, culminating with the W.C. Also, my future wife (who I hadnt met yet) got stuck in the traffic going to Woodstock and turned around and went home. A Texas Historical Marker commemorating the event was erected near the site of the festival in 2010. I saw a kids bicycle and Hey I had to do what I had to do. A week later, Robert Wilkinson, a Los Angeles City Councilman representing Northridge, led the call for immediate inquiries to determine what can the city do to prevent another disgraceful melee such as occurred outside Devonshire Downs last week. The events promoter, Mark Robinson, along with his attorneywho happened to be his father, Mark Robinson, Sr.were hauled into an emergency session of the police commission, as was Robert Deem, the Downs manager, and Captain Al Lembke. The Atlantic City Pop Festival took place in 1969 on August 1, 2 and 3rd at the Atlantic City race track, two weeks before Woodstock Festival. I was 17, then. About Grass Lake. Loved Janis, Little Richard was great as was the Chambers Brothers. Creedence Clearwater Revival was deafening, even at an outdoor racetrack. It was so late that I missed the last train to the suburbs (Media, PA). The primary complaint from local residents was that the festival participants swam naked in Lake Lewisville. I remember when Zappa and the Mothers of Invention were performing the man in the yellow raincost. Exactly what happened I remember it well, True, age was heckled and booed to tears everyone wanted to hear rock&roll, Not sure what you mean by age was heckled.. Those were the days! I remember all this like it was yeaterday. Spent two or three nights, cant remember exactly, sleeping on the grass but nobody bothered me. 1969 Midwest Rock Festival. Sorry, Cheryl, but Jimi Hendrix wasnt on stage or anywhere near Atlantic City that weekend. Booker T. and Little Richard (with Janis dancing on stage) were my favorite acts. I was one of the fools who climbed the light towers ! The appearance of John Lennon, Yoko Ono and The Plastic Ono Band was not publicly known in advance. We were sitting in gridlock not movin. There were restrooms and showers every 500 feet, medical staff, motorcycle and dune buggy trails, a lake with a beach,[2] and also the "longest slide in the world". 1969 Buffalo, New York, United States Uploaded by Zimtrim. Page created - June 21, 2012. A band from Michigan, Grand Funk Railroad, was allowed to perform only after the members agreed to play free and pay their own expenses. (Probably the same people who booed Dr. John, who was also phenomenal.) Includes more tracks from the whole festival, not just the documentary movie. One of the most iconic events in Colorado Springs during that weekend is the annual MeadowGrass Music Festival. We camped very close by. We chatted for an hour, what a friendly and knowledgeable guy he was, made my trip. According to the sources, Led Zeppelin stole the show. Ha! (Photo by Owen Franken/Corbis via Getty Images) It was a 3 day event that captured the spirit of the times: Woodstock. It was just as hot out as it was at Woodstock that weekend. Music Highlights from Traffic Jam'In . Some Virginia musicians I knew played there. If you change your mind, you can easily unsubscribe. But this article is about ATLANTIC CITY, not Atlanta. Amazing experience and as someone said already, coming soon after the Moon landing, just seemed like America was best place in the World. I was there and she walked off the stage for sure. Thank you. My girlfriend Sara & I left when it was announced Johnny Winter a no-show. Astrologers, painters, artists, craftsmen, and leather workers; sellers of incense, T-shirts, jewelry, and candles; and food vendors all peddled their wares. Masters of ceremonies were Teegarden & Van Winkle, who also performed. Billed as An exhibition for young people the Fair was used as an opportunity for companies to market their products to young people. Last time I drove a hitchhiker across the border. Does anybody remember the fire company arriving one afternoon with tanker trucks that sprayed water in the infield so us hippies could get showers? The Goose Lake International Music Festival held August 79, 1970 in Leoni Township, Michigan, "was one of the largest music events of its era",[1] and featured many of the top rock music bands of the period. Related: Listings for 100s of upcoming classic rock festivals. I was just about recovered from the Atlantic City festival the previous weekend, and I said, No thanks man, I just did that thing. I dont remember a whole lot of details about that weekend, except not getting a lot of sleep and having the climb the chainlink fence to get ineven though Id bought tickets, theyd been stolen. Luckily the old van made it back to toronto. And Santana and Chicago, Iron Butterfly, Jefferson Airplane, FZ and the Mothers, Janice..Everyone!!!! www.grasslaketrafficjamin.com. the jonie story is true! That caught my attention. He was upset. Had to walk home in the middle of the night as no one would give me a ride. Really fantastic. What a way to celebrate!) I collect sixties posters and this one is truly rare. The Texas International Pop Festival was the first major rock festival in Texas. Gave me one of the bags which must have weighed a few pounds. The promoters stupidly put her in between high-energy rock bands. While the Woodstock Music and Art Fair is the most famous of music festivals, few realize that it was just one of dozens in 1969 and that many of the same Woodstock artists performed at those others.. It was mostly the McGuinn/Clarence White show at that point (A great show at that!). Po revoluci v kvtnu [] Got to see most of the acts within a year or so of that summer. Stayed 36 hours but ran out of brain cells. I camped also with three other car loads of my fraternity friends who talked me into going 2 weeks before I was being drafted into the army. You can listen to the old AUM material online. Nearly 30 years later I happened to be in a Johannesburg bar when Richie Havens and his accompianist turned up unannounced and played a set. Atlantic City Pop was more secure, the fences werent temporary, large chain link fences with turnstiles and such. Do you remember Janis mooning us? I have no recollection of her being booed. (very tall) and also stuck my head in the speakers ! TICKETS & INFO. The Chambers Brothers were a last-minute substitute. The seats emptied into the concourses and onto the field.
grass lake music festival 1969