The Goose Lake International Music Festival held August 7–9, 1970, in Leoni Township, Michigan, "was one of the largest music events of its era", and featured many of the top rock music bands of the period.

History

Facilities and planning

The festival took place nearly one year after Woodstock, and the Goose Lake promoters set out to create a better planned event with better facilities for rock fans than Woodstock. The lead promoter was Richard Songer, a wealthy 35-year-old man who had been successful in the construction business. Songer teamed up with experienced Detroit disc jockey and promoter, Russ Gibb, The backstage area had a tent where 20 to 30 groupies described as "sizzlers" were available for the performers. The festival was known for widespread, openly visible drug sales

John Laycock of the Windsor Star praised the festival, writing that "The Organization Men of Goose Lake have resurrected the spirit of Woodstock without the discomforts" and that "the giant amphitheatre was superbly equipped." Laycock mentioned the performances of Frost, Savage Grace, Chicago, The Flock, Jethro Tull, John Sebastian, Faces, Ten Years After, Mountain and The Flying Burrito Brothers as particularly memorable. Tom Wright, who was responsible for staging and logistics at the festival, including design of the revolving stage, reported that it had gone off "virtually hitch free".

The rotating stage was a success. Record store owner Dave Bernath remembered, "The band would literally hit their last note, say 'thank you' and 'goodbye,' they spun around and the next band started within a minute—in seconds! The first band was still fading out when the other band came on! That's the way it should be!"

Despite some problems, "most fans and musicians recall a sunny attitude surrounding the weekend". The festival took place at the time of the 25th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and peace groups publicized an anti-nuclear weapons message during the event.

Detroit rock historian David A. Carson wrote that "drugs took center stage" The district attorney obtained an injunction barring any other public shows at the park. No further rock festivals took place at Goose Lake.

The site of the Goose Lake Festival is now the Greenwood Acres Family Campground.

See also

  • List of historic rock festivals
  • List of jam band music festivals

References

  • Concert poster
  • Detroit Metro Times article on Goose Lake Festival
  • Festival photos by Don C. Hanover III
  • JTV "True Story" documentary on Goose Lake Festival