If you grew up when I did, you’ve got a Woodstock memory.
I had a ticket and everything (except actual plans about how to get there).
Me, in my Woodstock days. Or should I say, Woogstock.
Then I got grounded. (Well deserved, I must admit.) Instead of getting rained on, sleeping in the mud and being awakened by Jimi Hendrix, I sat at home. I read about the huge festival in the New York Times. A few months later, I saw the movie.
Several years later — now out of college — I was cleaning my old room at my parents’ house. I found my Woodstock ticket: still pristine, never used.
“Oh,” I said to myself. “That’s interesting.”
And promptly threw it out.
That’s not the most compelling — or financially savvy — Woodstock story. But it’s mine.
Other people have much better ones.
Like Michael Friedman (Staples High School 1961 grad/music producer/ photographer). Roger Kaufman (Staples ’66 musician/musicologist). Dodie Pettit (Westport actress/singer/Woodstock attendee). Paul Nelson (Johnny Winter’s guitar player). Ira and Maxine Stone (Woodstock performers). Bruce Pollock (author).
They’ll all be at the Westport Woman’s Club this Wednesday (May 15, 7 p.m.). They’re part of a “Woodstock: 50 Years Down the Road” panel, talking about their experiences at that almost-50-years-ago/seems-like-yesterday historical event.
“Lotta freaks!” Arlo Guthrie said. “The New York State Thruway is closed!”
After the discussion, the Old School Revue’s Woodstock All-Stars will play favorite hits from Woodstock. Performers include Kaufman, Pettit, the Stones (Ira and Maxine, not Mick and Keith), Pete Hohmeister, Frank Barrese, Bob Cooper, Billy Foster and Nina Hammerling Smith.
Special guests include Rex Fowler of Aztec Two-Step, Robin Batteau and the Saugatuck Horns (Joe Meo and Fred Scerbo).
The event is free (but register online; seating is limited).
In other words, you don’t need a ticket.
That’s good. If I had one, I’d probably throw it away.
(For more information, click here. “Woodstock: 50 Years Down the Road” is sponsored by the Westport Library.)
