Woodstock at 55: The Festival That Defined a Generation

In the summer of 1969, a music festival unfolded in New York state, an event that would epitomise the counter culture of the Sixties. Co-organised by the late Michael Lang, this gathering came to embody the hippy ideals of free love, and 55 years later we continue to celebrate The Woodstock Generation - those fortunate flower children who experienced an unforgettable journey.

Held from August 15th to 18th on Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, New York, and marked by freely available drugs, free love and (once the fences collapsed) free entry, The Woodstock Music and Art Fair, more commonly referred to as Woodstock, attracted more than 460,000 attendees in total, with 32 acts performing outdoors despite overcast and sporadic rain. As such, it quickly became one of the largest music festivals in history.

Woodstock's Best Moments

While Woodstock was marred with plenty of controversy (more on that later), many still reminisce fondly on the festival’s music, which was marked by some incredible talent. They think of that weekend and remember Jimi Hendrix’s closing performance of The Star Spangled Banner, and Joe Cocker’s incredible rendition of With A Little Help From My Friends. Lang would go on to manage Cocker for over 20 years.

Santana's performance, particularly their electrifying rendition of Soul Sacrifice, catapulted the band to stardom and showcased their unique blend of rock and Latin music, while Janis Joplin also delivered a passionate performance that solidified her reputation as one of rock’s greatest vocalists, despite her initial nervousness.

The Controversies That Defined Woodstock

While celebrated as a pinnacle of peace and music, Woodstock ‘69 was not without its controversies. One of the most significant issues was the logistical chaos that ensued as the festival's attendance ballooned to over 400,000 people, far exceeding the expected 50,000, leading to massive traffic jams and a declaration of a national emergency. The festival site quickly became overwhelmed, resulting in food shortages, inadequate sanitation facilities and medical emergencies.

There was the lack of proper fencing that allowed many attendees to enter without paying, turning Woodstock into a free festival and creating financial turmoil for the organisers. And then, as the festival began, torrential downpour turned the stage microphones into electricity conductors, doling out shocks to those who touched them. The rain also meant that raw sewage from the overflowing loos at the top of the site was mixing with mud and cascading down into the crowd in the valley below.

The use of recreational drugs was also rampant, leading to numerous cases of drug-related illnesses and overdoses, straining the limited medical resources available. It was on the festival’s second day that tragedy really struck when 17-year-old Raymond Mizsak was killed when he was driven over by a tractor towing a water-tank. The driver did not notice him: Mizsak, asleep with his sleeping bag pulled over his head, was hidden among heaps of wet litter and other sleeping bags.

A second fatality occurred when 18-year-old Marine Richard Bieler allegedly succumbed to a drug overdose, though another account attributes his death to hypothermia and inflammation. There were, however, also two births at the festival, offering a touch of cosmic balance.

Love Was In The Air

In another touch of cosmic balance, there is one enduring love story that began amidst the music and camaraderie of Woodstock. Jerry and Judy Griffin met while on the way to the festival - Judy’s car had broken down, but Jerry and his buddies were happy to give her a lift – and the pair quickly bonded over their shared passion for the music and ideals of the era.

Jerry, a young musician captivated by the performances, found himself drawn to Judy's infectious energy and free-spirited nature while Judy, mesmerised by the atmosphere of peace and love, felt an instant connection with his deep appreciation for the music and the festival's counter cultural ethos. The pair have been together ever since and now have two sons and five grandchildren, with a picture of the happy couple recently emerging on the PBS documentary Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation, much to their delight.

What Can We Expect From Woodstock’s 55th Anniversary?

While Woodstock organisers and fans have tried to recreate the magic on a number of occasions – anniversary events were held in 1994 and 1999, the latter marred by violence, including sexual assault – neither could measure up to the original. A proposed ‘Woodstock 50’ festival was also planned for 2019 but was plagued by problems and never came to pass.

That said, from August 15th – 17th 2024, there will be several more subdued events held across the US to celebrate the generations of creative expressionists who continue to inspire the world, culminating in a celebration of the volunteers with a community gathering and fireworks.

Here’s What You Can Expect:

• Back to the Garden 1969: Going beyond typical tribute bands by honouring not just one artist, but an entire era of music that defined a cultural moment, this popular tribute band recreate the classic sounds of legendary Woodstock performers including Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Jimi Hendrix, Sly & The Family Stone and many more.

INFO: 16th August, The Colony, Woodstock, NY, 8pm. Tickets.

• The Woodstock 55th: Watch eleven of Chicago’s finest musicians take the stage to cover the spectrum of musical genres from rock, blues, folk, soul, jazz, Latin and psychedelia.

INFO: 16th August, Des Plaines Theatre, 1476 Miner St, Des Plaines, 8pm. Tickets.

• 55th Anniversary of Woodstock: Paying tribute to The Who and Jimi Hendrix, who shared the stage at Woodstock, The Pinball Wizards and Liquid Sky bring classic tunes to the masses in San Francisco.

INFO: 17th August, 1355 Bush Street San Francisco, CA, 7pm. Tickets.