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Woodstock Festival: New York, Hippies, Musicians, Bands And Best Music Festival
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Published: December 14, 2007
The world's most legendary music festival took place in 1969 on a dairy farm in Bethel, New York: Woodstock. A symbol of 1960s counterculture, the Woodstock music festival featured live performances from 32 bands and musicians, including legendary artists Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Widely accepted as one of the greatest moments in music history, this three day concert event drew a crowd of 500,000 people that would represent a legendary moment in time.
Officially labeled The Woodstock Music and Art Fair, the festival took place on 600 acres of land, owned by dairy farmer Max Yasgur, southwest of Woodstock, New York.
The festival took place from August 15 to August 18, 1969, and Woodstock tickets sold for $18 to $24. Originally expecting a maximum of 60,000 people, the popularity of the event soon drew an additional 440,000 people. The concert attracted a large crowd of hippies, a group of people rebelling against the social order of the time. Hippies were characterized by their belief in love, peace, equality, and their manner and style of dress. Although there was a shortage of food, water and portable facilities, the spirit of love, cooperation and the appreciation of music pervaded.
Folk singer Richie Havens opened the festival, and with the audience pleading for an encore, Havens performed his memorable improvisation Freedom/Motherless Child. Other notable bands and musicians include Joan Baez, Santana, Mountain, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, Credence Clearwater Revival, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Joe Cocker and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix closed the festival with his famous performance of the "Star Spangled Banner" on his electric guitar.
The original Woodstock can be revisited through live recordings of the music festival or by watching the documentary of the event. The site of the festival has been well preserved and a plaque and totem pole commemorating the event have been established on the site. The site still attracts a large group of visitors each year who desire to experience the setting of the legendary concert.
Because of the fame and legend of the original concerts, efforts have been made to recreate Woodstock in 1989, 1994 and 1999. The most notorious of these concerts was Woodstock 1999. Unlike the festival of 1969, the 1999 festival was plagued by commercialism, violence, property damage, vandalism and fires. Notably absent were the peace, spirit, generosity and social harmony that characterized the original festival. Factors that led to the escalating violence include poor organization and planning by promoters and organizers, high prices for food and water, lack of water and portable toilets, poor sanitation, scorching temperatures, and encouragement of vandalism by performers.
Although there are rumors of a possible Woodstock 2009 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original festival, nothing has been officially announced. The desire to commemorate the original Woodstock is due to the desire to recapture the spirit of peace, social harmony and legendary music. Woodstock was unique in that so many people were able to assemble peacefully due to their shared love of music. Efforts to recapture the legendary event may be futile, but the desire to keep the dream of Woodstock alive is certainly understandable.
Sources:
"Woodstock Facts & Figures." TheClassicRockPage. 1999-2002. 5 Oct. 2005. http://www.classicrockpage.com/newslet/newsgrap/se p02/factsandfigures.htm.
"Woodstock Festival." Wikipedia. 5 Oct. 2007. 5 Oct. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_Festival.
"Woodstock 1999." Wikipedia. 5 Oct. 2007. 5 Oct. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_1999.
Officially labeled The Woodstock Music and Art Fair, the festival took place on 600 acres of land, owned by dairy farmer Max Yasgur, southwest of Woodstock, New York.
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Folk singer Richie Havens opened the festival, and with the audience pleading for an encore, Havens performed his memorable improvisation Freedom/Motherless Child. Other notable bands and musicians include Joan Baez, Santana, Mountain, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, Credence Clearwater Revival, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Joe Cocker and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix closed the festival with his famous performance of the "Star Spangled Banner" on his electric guitar.
The original Woodstock can be revisited through live recordings of the music festival or by watching the documentary of the event. The site of the festival has been well preserved and a plaque and totem pole commemorating the event have been established on the site. The site still attracts a large group of visitors each year who desire to experience the setting of the legendary concert.
Because of the fame and legend of the original concerts, efforts have been made to recreate Woodstock in 1989, 1994 and 1999. The most notorious of these concerts was Woodstock 1999. Unlike the festival of 1969, the 1999 festival was plagued by commercialism, violence, property damage, vandalism and fires. Notably absent were the peace, spirit, generosity and social harmony that characterized the original festival. Factors that led to the escalating violence include poor organization and planning by promoters and organizers, high prices for food and water, lack of water and portable toilets, poor sanitation, scorching temperatures, and encouragement of vandalism by performers.
Although there are rumors of a possible Woodstock 2009 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original festival, nothing has been officially announced. The desire to commemorate the original Woodstock is due to the desire to recapture the spirit of peace, social harmony and legendary music. Woodstock was unique in that so many people were able to assemble peacefully due to their shared love of music. Efforts to recapture the legendary event may be futile, but the desire to keep the dream of Woodstock alive is certainly understandable.
Sources:
"Woodstock Facts & Figures." TheClassicRockPage. 1999-2002. 5 Oct. 2005. http://www.classicrockpage.com/newslet/newsgrap/se p02/factsandfigures.htm.
"Woodstock Festival." Wikipedia. 5 Oct. 2007. 5 Oct. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_Festival.
"Woodstock 1999." Wikipedia. 5 Oct. 2007. 5 Oct. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_1999.
