Jack Bruce, the Animals and the Turtles top Hippiefest
By Mitchell Peters
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Jack Bruce of Cream, Eric Burdon and the Animals, and the Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie will lead the lineup of the third installment of Hippiefest.
The traveling festival kicks off July 11 at Dodge Theatre in Phoenix and wraps August 10 at the Pompano Beach Amphitheatre in Pompano Beach, Fla.
Other acts appearing on various dates are Janis Ian, Badfinger 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 visits primarily theaters, amphitheaters and casinos. Ticket prices range from $25 to $75.
The initial concept for Hippiefest was to "re-create the '60s generation," producer Toby Ludwig told Billboard.com. "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, Ron 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 said. "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, the Flower Power Concerts partners "try and put the authentic groups out there, as opposed to just the name of a group," Ludwig said. "There are a lot of groups now that you can (book) -- and I don't want to name names, because I don't feel like 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 at Woodstock in 1969.
Reuters/Billboard
