Rock Hall Celebrates Woodstock’s 50th Anniversary with New Exhibit and Special Rock Hall Nights
Relive the Iconic Music Festival with Rock Hall Inductees and Woodstock Performers Freddie Stone of Sly & The Family Stone and Michael Carabello of Santana on May 1st
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is bringing peace, love and music to fans during Woodstock’s 50th anniversary. On May 1st, fans can relive the iconic music festival with a new Woodstock 50 exhibit (open through Fall 2019) and special Woodstock themed Rock Hall Nights with Inductees and Woodstock performers Freddie Stone of Sly & The Family Stone and Michael Carabello of Santana.
It’s been nearly 50 years since Woodstock generated legendary musical moments and catapulted an entire festival culture. Groups and artists such as Sly & The Family Stone, Jefferson Airplane, The Who, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and many others defined a new set of sound. Woodstock 50 celebrates the ambition and ingenuity of those who mounted the festival to the performers who played it gaining a deeper understanding of the various faces of Woodstock and how it changed the music industry forever.
The new Woodstock 50 exhibit features rare prints, performance outfits, video footage, tickets, original signage and more. Highlights include:
- A photo exhibit with rare prints, contact sheets and never-before-seen artifacts from renowned photographer Jim Marshall’s archive including his earliest Leica M4 camera used to photograph Woodstock. Marshall captured the festival’s most raw and intimate moments from the three-day festival. The Rock Hall is the only museum in the country celebrating Woodstock with Marshall’s collection.
- Jimi Hendrix (1992 Rock Hall Inductee) guitar strap used at Woodstock 1969 to deliver a mesmerizing set featuring his rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to a dwindling crowd of 180,000 who toughed it through the last hours of Woodstock, along with his handwritten lyrics to “Voodoo Chile (Slight Return),” the last song he would ever perform live.
- Hand-drawn map of festival grounds with aerial views highlighting prominent locations and a telegram from festival organizer Michael Lang envisioning the event documented from every angle with plans to secure the filming and clearance for showing footage after the festival.
- Rare video footage from the Rock Hall collection captured during Woodstock ’69 with candid moments offering new perspectives of festival goers.
- John Sebastian (2000 Rock Hall Inductee) of the Lovin’ Spoonful performance outfit from his unscheduled appearance at Woodstock. He traveled to the festival as a spectator but was asked to appear when the organizers suddenly needed an acoustic performer after a rain break.
- Billie Joe Armstrong (2015 Rock Hall Inductee) shoes worn at Woodstock ’94, nicknamed “Mudstock” partly due to Green Day’s performance. Days of rain turned the venue into a field of mud and as Armstrong taunted the audience with “I don’t care what you do, I don’t want to be a mud hippie like you,” an enormous mud fight ensued.
Woodstock 50 opens May 1 with a special Rock Hall Nights: Woodstock program that evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST. Fan can meet Rock Hall Inductees and Woodstock performers Freddie Stone of Sly & The Family Stone and Michael Carabello of Santana, challenge their friends to Woodstock trivia, explore artifacts from the Rock Hall’s Library and Archives, check out Woodstock 50, Hendrix and San Francisco exhibits, make a flower headband, take pictures in a festival photo booth, and enjoy screenings of Woodstock artist highlights from the Induction ceremony stage as well as a director’s cut of the documentary film Woodstock. This is the last Rock Hall Nights of the season. The monthly program will return in the fall with new themes and activities.
INSIDER TIP
Purchase a special $20 online only ($34 value) Rock Hall Nights ticket which includes access to exhibits between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., a VIP check-in, complimentary drink voucher and free giveaways. Metered parking is available surrounding the Museum and is free after 6 p.m. daily. Rock Hall Members and City of Cleveland residents (ID required at box office) can attend for free.
About the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Rock Connects Us. Our mission is clear: To engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock and roll. We share stories of the people, events and songs that shape our world through exhibits, innovative programs and concerts. Join the millions who love it as much as you do. Experience us live or online – Visit rockhall.com or Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Long Live Rock!
