Music Festival events
- Thousands of people arrived at Max Yasgur’s farm in Bethel, New York, one day before the Woodstock Music Festival officially began. Many festivalgoers arrived early, set up their tents and camps, and settled in around the festival grounds. The growing crowds, heavy traffic and anticipation created an atmosphere unlike anything seen before. What was about to become one of the most famous music festivals in history was already taking shape.
- On August 15, 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair opened on Max Yasgur’s 600-acre farm in Bethel, New York. Originally promoted as “Three Days of Peace and Music,” the festival had already attracted tens of thousands of people before the official opening, and the grounds quickly filled with an enormous crowd. Due to the overwhelming turnout, severe traffic jams and problems with ticket control, the festival eventually became a free event. The festival was officially opened by spiritual teacher Sri Swami Satchidananda. Richie Havens was the first musician to take the stage and performed an unusually long set because many of the scheduled performers were delayed. The first day also featured Sweetwater, Bert Sommer, Tim Hardin, Ravi Shankar, Melanie, Arlo Guthrie, and Joan Baez, who closed the first day’s performances. The opening of Woodstock became one of the defining moments in music history, creating an atmosphere of peace, music and collective celebration that would come to symbolize an entire generation.
- The second day of the festival continued with performances by a remarkable line-up of artists. The stage featured Quill, Country Joe McDonald, Santana, John Sebastian, the Keef Hartley Band, the Incredible String Band, Canned Heat, Mountain, the Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, Sly and the Family Stone, the Who, and Jefferson Airplane. One of the day’s most memorable moments was Santana’s performance. Carlos Santana later recalled experiencing the effects of mescaline and hallucinations while on stage. The evening continued with performances by the Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Janis Joplin. In the early morning hours, the Who took the stage at around 5 a.m., followed by Jefferson Airplane. The second day of Woodstock was one of the most intense stretches of the entire festival and featured several performances that would later become legendary moments in rock music history.
- The third day of the festival continued with another remarkable line-up of performances. The stage featured Joe Cocker, Country Joe and the Fish, Ten Years After, The Band, Johnny Winter, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Joe Cocker’s energetic, blues-influenced performance became one of the festival’s most memorable moments. Ten Years After also made a lasting impression, culminating in an extended and intense guitar performance by Alvin Lee. Another significant moment was the first public performance by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young as a group. The Band brought their distinctive blend of rock, folk, and American roots music, while Johnny Winter delivered a powerful blues-rock performance. The third day offered a diverse combination of rock, blues, folk, and soul, continuing the atmosphere of a musical gathering that was gradually becoming a historic event.
- Due to delays caused by bad weather, technical problems and the enormous scale of the event, the festival continued into Monday morning. Sha Na Na took the stage first, bringing a striking return to the rock ’n’ roll style of the 1950s and creating a sharp contrast with much of the festival’s psychedelic and rock-oriented music. The final performer was Jimi Hendrix with his band Gypsy Sun & Rainbows. He took the stage at around 9:00 a.m., by which time most of the audience had already left the festival grounds. His performance nevertheless became one of the most famous moments in Woodstock history, particularly for his distinctive rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” After Hendrix’s performance, the musical program of Woodstock officially came to an end. The remaining festivalgoers began leaving the site, leaving behind enormous amounts of garbage, mud and debris. A massive cleanup operation followed, involving both volunteers and hired crews. The grounds were gradually cleared and restored.
- Among those performing at the Heatwave Festival, known as “New Wave Woodstock”, at Mosport Park near Toronto were Elvis Costello, The B-52s, The Pretenders and Talking Heads. Talking Heads performed songs from their forthcoming album “Remain In Light” and also introduced a new touring lineup featuring keyboardist Bernie Worrell and guitarist Adrian Belew.
- Woodstock '94 began in Saugerties, New York. The festival began exactly 25 years after the original Woodstock Music and Art Fair.
- Woodstock '94 began in Saugerties, New York, as a continuation of the legendary 1969 festival held to mark its 25th anniversary. More than 350,000 fans attended, and heavy rain and mud earned the festival the nickname “Mudstock”. Some original 1969 Woodstock performers also appeared, including The Band, Santana, Joe Cocker, Country Joe McDonald, John Sebastian, and Crosby, Stills & Nash.
- Original Woodstock promoter Michael Lang canceled the planned free concert marking the festival's 40th anniversary in Prospect Park due to high costs and a lack of sponsors.