Dig out your bell-bottom jeans, tie-dyed shirts, fringed vests or halter tops from the closet. Flat-iron your hair and tie a leather headband around your forehead. Accessorize with strands of love beads or a peace sign and you're ready for the 50th anniversary Woodstock tribute party.
Everyone's going to party like it's 1969 when this throwback party to the summer of love is held in Songbirds South on Saturday, Aug. 17, at 8 p.m.
The anniversary theme party will feature four bands covering the music of Woodstock, each playing about an hour. Taking the stage will be The Pool, covering The Who and Santana; Oweda, playing the music of Joe Cocker, Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Grateful Dead; and Jess Goggans Band, performing music of Janis Joplin and Jefferson Airplane. Paul Childers will come from Nashville to cover Jimi Hendrix, Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Ten Years After.
David Stuart will emcee the show, basing his act on Wavy Gravy, the original Woodstock master of ceremonies.
Planning for this weekend's 50th anniversary party actually began a year ago, according to Michael Welch, a member of The Pool.
Welch says local Woodstock parties date back to the early 1990s when they were held in the former Sandbar Restaurant. Welch approached Mike Dougher, now Songbirds entertainment coordinator, about letting The Pool play music from the film "Woodstock" at a 25th anniversary tribute party at the Sandbar.
"A year ago, I called Dougher and asked if he would be interested in doing a 50th anniversary at Songbirds. It would be a lot of work for one band to do all the music, so I asked Dougher for ideas of bands who cover other artists. He made some calls and he signed the other bands. We put our heads together and made it work out. Rob Olsen came up with a poster for the anniversary party," credits Welch.
Whereas The Pool is marking its 30th anniversary together, Oweda has been together just since December 2018. Brandon Henry, manager of Oweda, says the band will play about 10 songs in their set.
"We usually do original music. Oweda is a rock band with some soulful vibes to it. But we've covered The Beatles, Rolling Stones, all the way to newer artists like Kings of Leon," says Henry.
Everyone is encouraged to come dressed in their hippie best because the Woodstock party will include a costume contest. There will also be face painting, drink specials and catered food.
Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 day of show.
For more information: 423-531-2473.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.