(1969) Remembering Woodstock: Day One
Originally it had ben planned in the town of Woodstock then Saugerties but both towns refused to host the event. It was then slated for Wallkill, NY but that town quickly stopped that event as it began to grow. Dairy farmer Max Yasgur, agreed toa deal to have the promoters use his land for the event.
Although tickets were sold in advance the event blew out of proportion as thousands of people showed up from across the country. Another few hundred thousand never got there. The event turned into a free concert as the gate crashers flowed into the concert field. An estimated 300,300 to 500,00 people attended Woodstock, with a possible million attempting to get there at some point.
The weather did not co-operate as heavy thunderstorms plagued the area all three days. This led to the mud people, rain chants & water sliding in the crowd & the electrical problems on stage.
There was a shortage of food, organizers & a group called the Hog Farm came up with a mix of oats & granola to help distribute to the crowd.
keep a makeshift hospital with volunteer doctors & nurses to help sick or injured folks as well as those on bad acid trips.
The highlight of the event was of course the music, some of the biggest rock & roll bands
of the era took the stage for some all-time classic performances. The young crowd had the largest city in New York for three days with all of them from their generation.
of the era took the stage for some all-time classic performances. The young crowd had the largest city in New York for three days with all of them from their generation.
For three days they lived a dream then had to return to the real world. Many who were there tell great stories of how great it all was but others tell a different side that doesnt get much publicity.
The show stared later than expected on Friday afternoon as throngs of people were still on their way to the event. Thousands have already flooded the town of Bethel to the dismay of many local residents.
Friday August 15, 1969
The traffic jams had the roads blocked and the musicians who were staying at a Holiday Inn a few miles away couldn't get to the site, until helicopters started flying them in. Obviously there were many delays on Friday afternoon.
Originally scheduled to go on fifth, Havens was asked to go on first because he & two of his band members were there. Artie Kornfield (one of the organizers) knew Havens from Greenwich Village & kept pushing him out there to buy more time until the other acts arrived. Havens played a much longer than expected set, nearly three hours & after running out of songs, made up his now classic Freedom on the spot.
Sri was a famous Yoga-meditation guru. Due to the delays he was given some main stage time.
730 PM: SWEETWATER- Motherless Child- Look Out- For Pete's Sake- Day Song- What's Wrong- Crystal Spider- Two Worlds- Why Oh Why- Hey Jude/Let The Sun Shine In- Oh Happy Days
Sweetwater were supposed to open the show due to their keyboardist having military obligations the next day. They were a diverse band (whites, blacks & latinos) with an eclectic style. They played many big festivals of the time despite not having a hit record. They arrived late due to the traffic & came in second. Sadly, that winter singer Nancy Nevens was seriously injured in a car crash & the band disbanded.
830 PM: BERT SOMMER- Jenifer- Road to Travel- I Wonder Where You'd Be- Shes Gone- Things Are Going My Way- And When Its Over- Jeanette- America- A Note That Read- Smile
900 PM: TIM HARDIN- How Can We Hang on to a Dream- Susan- If I were A Carpenter- Reason to Believe- You Upset the Grace of Living When You Lie- Speak Like a Child- Snow White Lady- Blue on My Ceiling- Simple Song of Freedom- Misty Roses
A resident of nearby Woodstock, NY, Hardin was an acclaimed singer songwriter, plagued with drug problems. He is seen totally out of it in the film his performance was a disappointment.
1000 PM: RAVI SHANKAR- Shankar was popular with his Indian music thanks to George Harrison & David Crosby. The influence of the sitar was the in thing of the mid sixties. His set was cut short after a half hour by the first rainfall of the weekend.
At the time 22-year-old Melanie was a Greenwich Village folk singer born in Queens & living in New Jersey. She had worked in the same office building as the Woodstock promoters, so she was asked to perform.
It was dark & raining as she came on stage. The stage announcement prior to her set told the crowd it was the largest group of people ever assembled in one place, light a match to see yourselves. The crowd lit candles during her set in a massive sea of light Melanie launched her career.
Arlo son of folk protest singer, Woodie Guthrie, was just 18 years old, he claims he wasn't expected to go on & had partied a little to much that day which affected his performance. His was known for the Thanksgiving classic: Alice's Restaurant.
It was a tripping Guthrie who said "I don't like how many of you can dig how many people there are man, like I was rapping to the fuzz, can you dig it? There's supposed to be a million & a half people here by tomorrow. The NY State Thruways closed man"...Lotta freaks!!
The veteran folk singer was well known & pregnant at the time. She had performed at the Free Stage area earlier in the day for those far away from the main stage. After her performance the rain came down heavy.
