Woodstock Festival
15-19 August 1969
Billed as 'three days of peace and music', the Woodstock festival of 15 -19 August 1969 was originally designed as a commercial, profit making venture before mutating into a free festival when the barriers were torn down by eager ticketless fans.
Nearly half a million people attended and watched performances by acts ranging from Sly and Family Stone to The Who to Crosby, Stills and Nash. Over the three days there were three deaths and two births, as well as some career defining performances.
Jimi Hendrix had insisted on being the final act and by the time he took the stage on Monday morning there were less than 80,000 people and the site resembled a war zone. Still, the guitarist's anguished deconstruction of "The Star Spangled Banner" became one of the most iconic moments in the history of rock.
Related Pages
I was there
Related Programme
The Birth of Rock - Blues-based Rock 1963-1970
The rock revolution of the 1960s seen through the life and music of Jimi Hendrix.
Have Your Say
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Mike Poland Macduff
An excellaent program and one that brings back all the great music from that era, it was a trip down memory lane for me, still and always will be a Hendrix fan, rock on Jimi.maria, cardiff!
amazing and informative sunday night viewing! proper bo i tell thee! age 24Mike White, Derby
A great truly great programme, a superb example of when music scipted the mood of the time - a history lesson to share with the kids of when music was as much about the experience as the sound - Hendrix, a legend that defined the spirit of the 60'ssteven collins
in my veiw jimi hendrix was the master of all guitarist's nobody could play like him & he will always be an icon in the annuals of music
Abbie Hoffman
Political activist
Pushed off stage by Pete Townshend.
Richie Havens
Singer, songwriter
First act to perform at Woodstock.
Wavy Gravy
Hippie activist
Master of Cermonies.