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| 40 year anniversary: Forgotten US rock festival that was bigger than Woodstock | 40 year anniversary: Forgotten US rock festival that was bigger than Woodstock |
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| This weekend 40 years ago, thousands of music fans abandoned their cars on state highways worried that they would miss the opening of Summer Jam. With only three bands booked - the Allman Brothers, the Grateful Dead, and The Band - the one day event still attracted over half a million fans. | This weekend 40 years ago, thousands of music fans abandoned their cars on state highways worried that they would miss the opening of Summer Jam. With only three bands booked - the Allman Brothers, the Grateful Dead, and The Band - the one day event still attracted over half a million fans. |
| With the chaos of Woodstock still fresh in the memory, tickets for Summer Jam were limited to 150,000 by organisers. Like Woodstock, many ticketless fans showed up anyway. About 600,000 – roughly one person in every 350 in America at the time - went to witness music history being made, causing one the biggest roadblocks America had known. | With the chaos of Woodstock still fresh in the memory, tickets for Summer Jam were limited to 150,000 by organisers. Like Woodstock, many ticketless fans showed up anyway. About 600,000 – roughly one person in every 350 in America at the time - went to witness music history being made, causing one the biggest roadblocks America had known. |
| By the time the bands had packed up and the crowds had dispersed, newspapers were reporting four road deaths, 50 arrests and the birth of one child. | By the time the bands had packed up and the crowds had dispersed, newspapers were reporting four road deaths, 50 arrests and the birth of one child. |
| Although the line up for Summer Jam was big on talent, the $10 ticket promised just three acts. Sadly, some of the recordings of the performances at Summer Jam were never released, which perhaps explains why memories have faded about its occurrence. Nonetheless, Rick Danko, a vocalist in the Band, spoke fondly of the event, saying: "Woodstock, Isle of Wight and Watkins Glen - those were the big three for us" | Although the line up for Summer Jam was big on talent, the $10 ticket promised just three acts. Sadly, some of the recordings of the performances at Summer Jam were never released, which perhaps explains why memories have faded about its occurrence. Nonetheless, Rick Danko, a vocalist in the Band, spoke fondly of the event, saying: "Woodstock, Isle of Wight and Watkins Glen - those were the big three for us" |
| If Summer Jam was all about music, then the bands did their best to entertain. The Grateful Dead were up first. Accounts vary as to how long they played for - some say three and a half hours, others five. Jim Koplik, event co-promoter, later recalled their performance as "fine, but they really weren't cooking." | If Summer Jam was all about music, then the bands did their best to entertain. The Grateful Dead were up first. Accounts vary as to how long they played for - some say three and a half hours, others five. Jim Koplik, event co-promoter, later recalled their performance as "fine, but they really weren't cooking." |
| Reading on mobile? Click here to watch video The Band followed, but a huge thunderstorm forced them off stage. When they returned the rain had turned the site into a muddy bog. One journalist likened it to something from the Civil War. | Reading on mobile? Click here to watch video The Band followed, but a huge thunderstorm forced them off stage. When they returned the rain had turned the site into a muddy bog. One journalist likened it to something from the Civil War. |
| The Allman Brothers Band came on stage last, playing for at least three hours, followed by a 90 minute closing jam featuring an extended version of "Johnny B. Goode". | The Allman Brothers Band came on stage last, playing for at least three hours, followed by a 90 minute closing jam featuring an extended version of "Johnny B. Goode". |
| Those that remember Summer Jam will say otherwise, but the festival didn't live long in the memory of most music fans. Other festivals such as Woodstock, Isle Wight, and even the infamous Altamont concert (see below), have passed into legend, whereas the one-day blowout at Watkins Glen has virtually been forgotten. . | Those that remember Summer Jam will say otherwise, but the festival didn't live long in the memory of most music fans. Other festivals such as Woodstock, Isle Wight, and even the infamous Altamont concert (see below), have passed into legend, whereas the one-day blowout at Watkins Glen has virtually been forgotten. . |
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