Concerts, films celebrate Woodstock anniversary
Fifty years ago, hundreds of thousands of music fans descended on a 600-acre dairy farm in Bethel, New York, for a three-day festival and changed America’s cultural landscape forever. The Aug. 15-18 Woodstock Music & Art Fair helped define the mores of the counterculture movement, had a lasting impact on the sound of rock music and gave birth to the concept of the largescale music festival. And all across the country, folks are celebrating the anniversary. Although a huge festival commemorating the anniversary — featuring the Killers, Imagine Dragons, Halsey and Miley Cyrus among others — has been scuttled, the Bay Area has several Woodstock-related events planned. And why not? The area contributed so much talent to the original festival: Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Joan Baez and Sly and the Family Stone all performed there. Here are some of the Bay Area events commemorating Woodstock’s 50th. CONCORD » The city’s Todos Santos Plaza is hosting three free Woodstockthemed concerts, featuring Caravanserai, performing the music of Santana, today; San Francisco Airship (Jefferson Airplane) on Friday and Purple Haze (Jimi Hendrix) on Saturday. All shows run 6-8 p.m. The Friday and Saturday events will include a drumming circle before the show and a guitar circle afterward, and the public is welcome to take part. Street musicians, artwork and more attractions will add to the festival atmosphere. Contact www.concordfirst.org for more information. ASHKENAZ » The Berkeley club’s Woodstock celebration runs through Sunday, including singer Tammi Brown performing a tribute to Richie Havens, 8 p.m. today; Bay Area band Lunafish performing a Woodstock set 8 p.m. Friday; San Francisco Airship performing 8 p.m. Saturday; and Kyra Gordon performing her acclaimed solo show “A Night With Janis” at 8 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15 for each, $40 for a three-show pass, $50 for all-show pass; ashkenaz.com. “WOODSTOCK,” THE MOVIE: » Michael Wadleigh’s Oscarnominated 1970 documentary — the director’s cut, all 3 hours and 44 minutes of it — is screening at theaters across the country today. You can catch it in San Jose, San Francisco, Berkeley, Pleasant Hill, Newark, Santa Clara, Dublin and elsewhere. Most screenings are at 7 p.m. and cost $12.50. Go to www.fathomevents.com for tickets and more information. BAL THEATRE » The San Leandro club hosts Liquid Sky performing hits from Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin; 8 p.m. Friday; $15; www. baltheatre.com.