NathanThe Guinness Book of World Records lists this one as the biggest festival during the time. So why has the Summer Jam at Watkins Glen beginning to seem obsolete? We know that music has the ability to teach and show us so many things that a school could never do. Let us take a closer look as to why this festival became one of the most epic festivals, breaking records but still excluded in pop culture history. Rock music during the 60s and 70s must have been powerful indeed. Let us interact and find out first hand what actually happened at the festival from the fans and the musicians themselves.
The Inspiration
In 1972, Jim Koplik and Shelly Finkel worked as concert promoters. They were young and very focused on getting things going for their business in music. They finally received recognition after organizing the Grateful Dead concert in Hartford, Connecticut. The show’s ending witnessed a renowned musician joining the Dead onstage for a mega-jam session. Jai Johanny Johanson, The Allman Brothers Band, Dickey Betts, and Berry Oakley were among the performers at the concert.
Unbelievable Attendance
Koplik and Finkel then found it necessary to organize another big festival. They were on a roll and so they quickly began planning a one-day Summer Jam at Watkins Glen, New York. The site was set up within days and the music production used was absolutely top-notch. The concert was to happen the following year. They wanted the show to take place at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Raceway. Attendance at the Summer Jam was more than anyone could ever fathom.
Largest Festival Of Its Time
150,000 tickets went out for the Summer Jam of 1973. However, there were about 600,000 rock fans that were actually in attendance. This would mean that at least 1 from every 350 people who were living in the United States showed up to the show. On the other hand, the original Woodstock festival’s attendance was about 400,000, not to mention it went on for 3 days with several big musicians. We must remember though that there were no online streaming sites to listen to hit songs during the 70s.
The Original Plan
The Summer Jam at Watkins Glen was originally planned to have around three bands as the main musical artists and it would only happen for a day. This plan would be surpassed by a ton and it was unimaginable for the concert planners that this could ever happen. Even though this festival took place 4 years before Woodstock, having more people attending, the Summer Jam at Watkins Glen remains shunned in the history of pop culture.
Just Three Acts
Like we have mentioned before, the initial plan for the Summer Jam had just 3 bands that were booked. They were the Grateful Dead, The Band, and The Allman Brothers. The organizers did not feel the need to add so many musicians for this particular festival. Before the show, the Allman Brothers’ Bunky Odom and the Dead’s Sam Cutler sent an invitation for The Band to play.
Overexcited Fans
In an interview about the festival, Odom revealed, “those three bands represented America. They were the three best American bands and they related to each other, the music related, the fans related and they all knew each other. It was just a great fit.” The fans were beyond excited to see the bands perform even though with only 3 performing.