Hippiefest Unveils Summer Plans
May 06, 2008
- Touring
By Mitchell Peters, L.A.
The third installment of Hippiefest will feature '60s acts Jack Bruce of Cream, Eric Burdon and the Animals, and The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie leading the lineup. The traveling festival begins July 11 at Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, and wraps Aug. 10 at the Pompano Beach Amphitheatre in Pompano Beach, Fla.
Other acts appearing on various dates are Janis Ian, Bandfinger featuring Joey Molland, Jonathan Edwards, Melanie, and former Hollies member Terry Sylvester. Further information about the lineup is available via hippiefest.net.
The 22-date tour -- produced by Toby Ludwig and Ron Hausfeld of Flower Power Concerts, Inc. -- primarily visits theaters, amphitheaters and casinos. Booking responsibilities for Hippiefest are handled by New York-based talent agency Wenig-LaMonica Associates. Ticket prices range from $25 to $75.
Now in its third year, the initial concept for Hippifest was to "re-create the '60s generation," Ludwid tells Billboard.biz. "For years I've been wanting to put out a socially [conscious] show, because our times are similar to my childhood, which was in the '60s. There are so many concerts out there that don't make a social statement."
To help bring social awareness issues to each concert, Ludwig and his business partner Hausfeld have reached out to organizations like Greenpeace and Get Out The Vote. The producers are also urging acts on the bill to speak about parallels between the '60s and today. "It's important to be aware of who we are and what we're doing as a country," Ludwig says. "Sometimes the best way to do it is through a concert where you have a lot of people together."
When putting together talent for the nostalgic traveling festival, "We try and put the authentic groups out there, as opposed to just the name of a group," Ludwig explains. "There are a lot of groups now that you can buy -- and I don't want to name names, because I don't feel getting sued -- that don't have original singers or any original members."
Last year's Hippiefest celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1967 "Summer of Love," and featured the Turtles, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals, the Zombies, Mountain Mitch Ryder, Badfinger, Country Joe McDonald, Iron Butterfly, Denny Laine and Melanie. Some of the acts on the bill performed at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival and 1969 Woodstock.
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