50 years ago today nearly half a million people gathered on a farmer’s field in upstate New York for three days of peace, love and music.

Woodstock was the defining moment of an entire generation amid a backdrop of war and civil unrest.

Local musician Sandy Morris was already working full time playing gigs in the summer of ’69. He says unrest in the United States was playing out on televisions screens everywhere. He says even in Newfoundland they were watching Walter Cronkite on the news. He says the war was in Vietnam but it was on the streets of America too, you could see the country on fire.

Morris says the festival made stars out of some artists while other big names were notable in their absence. Joni Mitchell passed on Woodstock because she was supposed to do the Dick Cavett Show and was afraid she would never make it in time.

Morris says despite the political overtones, it was all about the music.

He says his favourite moment was when political extremist Abbie Hoffman took the stage and the Who kicked him off.