Musical Roots

Woodstock


“Woodstock was beads and colours and flowers and sunshine and beautiful people”-John Sebastian

Forty years ago, in August 1969, drenched because of a constant downpour of rain and ankle-deep in mud, half a million music fans gathered on a field owned by dairy farmer Max “The Angel Of Woodstock” Yasgur. His small simple farm located in Bethel, New York would bring most of the best rock artists of the time to one place, in what would become recognized as the most significant and inspiring musical event of it’s kind: a landmark that defined a generation.

Woodstock is widely acknowledged as the defining moment of the rock-driven counterculture of the late 1960’s, a reaction to the conservative attitudes of post WWII society. Triggered by opposition to the war in Vietnam, many supported antiwar, racial equality, women’s rights, artistic freedom and sexual liberation. Although as a movement it was represented by many social, political and artistic groups, it is most recognized as a movement of young people adopting a “hippie” lifestyle, which encouraged “back to nature” communal living, an interest in exotic, mostly Eastern spiritual teachings and widespread use of mind-altering drugs. At the heart of the counterculture was the new, popular music of the 1960’s, which “tribal” gatherings like Woodstock celebrated.

The early half of the 1960’s set the scene for some radical social and political changes in America. The Cuban Missle Crisis, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the greatest concern for the youth of America was the US involvement in the Vietnam War. In the second half of the decade, American society became increasingly polarized. The Civil Right Movement reached a defining moment with the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968. America would become heavily divided, not by the traditional lines of race and class, but by generation, attitude and culture.

This new counterculture suggested a whole new model for an alternative society, many felt this could be expressed most completely at the “3 Days Of Peace & Music” festival…Woodstock was born.

Too many artists took to the stage during those 3 momentous days in upstate New York to name here…seminal artists of the day such as Santana, Hendrix, CCR, The Band and many, many more. We encourage you to explore the music, culture and significance of Woodstock more in depth…

For more info on Woodstock please visit: http://www.woodstock69.com/ and be sure to pick up the book “Woodstock: 3 Days That Rocked The World”