Since this was the last of the festival, we decided to arrive as close to the noon opening as we could to catch any exhibits we had missed and tour the Woodstock Museum one final time.

I headed immediately to the Writer’s Den tent. There were 3 writers of Woodstock books I wanted to talk to –

For a while, we simply wandered the grounds, shooting pictures to capture the spirit of the 50th anniversary. Here’s some of what we saw …

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Of course, there were younger folks there, too

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Night

On Friday and Saturday, the concerts had started at 7 p.m. But tonight, the 3-group show – Grace Potter, The Trucks/Teschi Band, and closer John Fogerty, who had played the original festival with Creedence Clearwater Revival – was scheduled to commence one hour earlier, at 6 p.m.

The crowd was ready …

… But 15 minutes before the show was to begin, this message flashed on the screen …

Of course, those who had arrived on the lawn as early as 2 p.m. to get as close to the stage as they could, weren’t happy with the announcement. However, security helped clear the lawn, where most people simply left chairs and blankets to mark their spot. We didn’t have to relocate since were had pavilion seats. About half an hour after the announcement was made, the sky darkened, thunder rolled, and lighting flashed. Strong winds gusted, bending trees on the site. Rain drops began pelting the pavilion. After all, this was Woodstock, right. Finally, the storm dissipated, the lawn attendees returned, the concessions reopened, and the concert got set to begin, albeit 90 minutes past its scheduled time.

While we waited, I began chatting with the man beside me. Initially, he told me he and his wife were residents Bethel Hills. In fact, he said his farm was located right next to the festival property. I asked Fred if he had attended the original festival. He said he and his brother wandered over to the site daily after their formwork had been completed. But he had an even more intriguing story about the festival to tell.

“Do you remember the movie?” he asked.

“Of course,” I replied. “I first saw it as soon as it was released and I watched it right before we came up here.”

“Well, remember that opening scene – where a farmer was plowing a field. That was my Dad. Some of those long-haired filmmakers had asked him if they could film him. We didn’t know he was in the movie until a guy who used to work for us called from California to let us know,” Fred said.

He asked me about Grace Potter and I told him she was one of my favorite current touring acts and I seen her several times, first with her band the Nocturnals and twice as a solo act. We also talked a little about Derek Allman and his guitar playing, blues singing wife Susan Tedeschi. Fred told me he had seen John Fogerty a few years ago and I told him I had just seen him on the debut night of his residency at the Wynn Casino in Las Vegas. And then, it was time for then concert to begin.

Grace Potter – “I’d Rather Go Blind”

Tedeschi/ Trucks Band – “Soul Sacrifice”

Tedeschi- Trucks Band – Sly and the Family Stone Medley

And finally, John Fogerty, playing 11 of the 13 songs he played with CCR at Woodstock 50 years ago, as well as some songs from that time and a couple of his other hits.

John Fogerty Set List for Woodstock 2019

1. Born on the Bayou(Creedence Clearwater Revival)
2. Green River(Creedence Clearwater Revival)
3. Lookin’ Out My Back Door(Creedence Clearwater Revival) 
4. Susie Q(Dale Hawkins cover)
5. Who’ll Stop the Rain(Creedence Clearwater Revival)
6. Hey Tonight(Creedence Clearwater Revival)
7. Up Around the Bend(Creedence Clearwater Revival)
8. Rock and Roll Girls
9. I Heard It Through the Grapevine(Gladys Knight & The Pips)
10. With a Little Help From My Friends(The Beatles cover)
11. Long as I Can See the Light(Creedence Clearwater Revival song)
12. Good Golly Miss Molly(Little Richard cover)
13. Everyday People(Sly & the Family Stone cover)
14. Dance to the Music(Sly & the Family Stone cover)
15. Give Peace a Chance(Plastic Ono Band cover)
16. The Star-Spangled Banner(John Stafford Smith & Francis Scott Key cover)
17. Run Through the Jungle(Creedence Clearwater Revival)
18. Keep On Chooglin’(Creedence Clearwater Revival)
19. Have You Ever Seen the Rain?(Creedence Clearwater Revival)
20. Down on the Corner(Creedence Clearwater Revival)
21. Centerfield
22. The Old Man Down the Road
23. Fortunate Son(Creedence Clearwater Revival
24. Travelin’ Band(Creedence Clearwater Revival)
25. Bad Moon Rising(Creedence Clearwater Revival)
26. Proud Mary(Creedence Clearwater Revival)