The Woodstock Music & Art Fair attracted an audience of over 400,000 people from August 15-17 in 1969. During the weekend, which featured a significant amount of rain, 32 acts performed, and little did the bands, or the audience, know that they were paving the way for all future music festivals. The festival is regarded as a pivotal moment that changed the history of rock and roll.
Over four decades later, it’s nice to take a trip down memory lane and look back at such an iconic moment in music. There are some fascinating stories behind the event that have been passed down through the years. Why was the opening performance ending up being Richie Havens and not Sweetener? While some people might remember the experience, others were a bit hazy.
Not In Woodstock
Photo Credit: Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images
Long before the festival was brought to life, organizers wanted to hold the event near the village of Woodstock in New York. However, there was no suitable location that was available to host the concert, so they settled for an industrial town near Middletown, New York. Unfortunately, their permits were revoked a month before the festival.
Luckily, they found dairy farmer Max Yasgur, who agreed to allow them to have their festival on his property — all the way out in the town of Bethel, New York. The festival actually happened on one of Yasgur’s hay fields.
