From that weekend in mid-August 1969, Woodstock has been a major moment in early rock history. Here in these parts, there was a festival that was just as important, if not quite as big, as that well known festival.
Today we remember The New Orleans Pop Festival, which was held just two weeks after Woodstock on August 30, 31 and September in the small town of Prairieville LA at the Louisiana International Speedway, about 15 miles south of Baton Rouge.
Promoter Steve Kapelow had been watching the problems that others had in anticipating a large crowd, and although his estimations of 15,000-20,000 were a bit low, the preparations for the event were well planned out. The reason that his estimate was a bit underwhelming was that another event had been planned in Dallas that same weekend, and it had been just six weeks past the disaster that was Hurricane Camille.
As it turned out, the crowd of 20,000-35,000 (depending if you were asking authorities or promoters), was quite well behaved. Several local biker gangs were enlisted to help with policing things, and evidently did a good job. Undercover police focused on drug dealers rather than users and only 37 drug related arrests were made. A medical staff handled a few overdoses, but compared to other festivals, it was a very peaceful and enjoyable weekend.
There was several local groups and some major acts as well….here is the lineup.
Saturday, August 30, 1969
- Local bands starting playing at 6:00pm until the “official” free concert began at 8:00pm.
- White Fox
- Snow Rabbit
- Deacon John and the Electric Soul Train
- Whizbang
- Axis
- Tyrannosaurus Rex (later to become T. Rex)
- It’s a Beautiful Day
Sunday, August 31, 1969
- Flower Power
- Snow Rabbit
- Spiral Starecase
- Oliver
- Smyth
- The Youngbloods
- It’s a Beautiful Day
- Country Joe and the Fish
- The Byrds
- Canned Heat
- Iron Butterfly
- Janis Joplin
- Santana
Monday, September 1
- Potliquor
- Axis
- Oliver
- Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys
- Chicago Transit Authority (Chicago)
- It’s a Beautiful Day
- Tyrannosaurus Rex
- The Youngbloods
- Lee Michaels
- Grateful Dead
- Jefferson Airplane
- Dr. John
- Jam Session featuring Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, Cat Mother, Santana, Chicago, It’s a Beautiful Day
- Whizbang
Speaking of lists…here was our morning show playlist…
Hootie—Only Wanna Be With You
Jim Croce—You Don’t Mess Around With Jim
Styx—Come Sail Away
Van Morrison—Moondance
Mindbenders—Groovy Kind of Love
Paul Davis—Sweet Life
DeFranco Family—Heartbeat, It’s a Lovebeat
Miracles—I Second that Emotion
Nashville Teens—Tobacco Road
Jefferson Airplane—Somebody to Love
Neil Diamond—I Am…I Said
Trigger Hippy—Rise Up Singing
The New Christy Minstrals—Green Green
Glen Campbell—Rhinestone Cowboy
Doobie Brothers—Listen to the Music
