Ten Thousand Electric Guitars Groovin' Real Loud

Monterey Pop: Tuesday, Oct. 21, 7 pm Woodstock: Tuesday, Nov. 2, 7 pm Films are free and open to the public; recommended for adult audiences.

Were you at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967? How about Woodstock in 1969? Come to the library and share your memories with the tribe as we revisit those historic gatherings in our rock concert film series. Or if you're too young to remember those days of love-beads and headbands, come see how your grandparents' generation used to have fun in the 1960s (hint: clothing optional).

As part of our ongoing rock concert film festival, the Stratford Library will be showing Monterey Pop on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 7 pm. The first major rock concert film, Monterey Pop was shot at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival during the “Summer of Love”. Director D.A. Pennebaker’s expansive documentary captures the essence of the feel-good hippie festival which launched the careers of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Otis Redding. The Mamas and the Papas, Simon and Garfunkel, and Ravi Shankar also turned in stellar performances. Guest speaker at the film will be writer/photographer Jeff Wignall. He spent many years as a concert photographer and has photographed hundreds of acts, among them Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones. For the past 15 years he has also hosted a Tuesday-afternoon show on WPKN 89.5 FM in Bridgeport.

Two weeks later, we'll continue the "musical trip" with a free showing of Woodstock, on Tuesday, November 4, at 7 pm. WPKN programmer Ken Best, who has a long career in music journalism and is the author of a history of rock and roll, will introduce the film. Come and groove with the Who, Santana, Country Joe and the Fish, Richie Havens, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and a sea of muddy hippies.