Woodstock Then and Now Explores the Festival That Defined a Generation

More than five decades after the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, fans and historians alike continue to revisit the three-day festival to better understand the transformational decade of the 1960s. In 2019, Berklee hosted a symposium celebrating the festival's 50th anniversary, which included panels and events with Woodstock cofounder Michael Lang; emcee, stage, and lighting designer Chip Monck; photographers Henry Diltz and Elliott Landy; sound designer Bill Hanley; public relations officer Rona Elliot; and Gerardo Velez, percussionist for Jimi Hendrix.

Transcripts from Berklee's symposium are now available for the first time in a new book, Woodstock Then and Now, from Clemson University Press. Edited by Alex Ludwig, assistant professor of liberal arts and sciences, and Simone Pilon, dean of academic affairs for Berklee's campus in Valencia, Spain, the book provides insider access to behind-the-scenes happenings of one of music history’s most iconic events.

“Woodstock Then and Now is a tremendous resource on the historical and artistic significance of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair five decades after the event,” said Ludwig. “I am so proud to be a part of such an important book that not only examines the way Woodstock changed the American musical landscape, but also celebrates its ongoing legacy well into today.”

The book is currently available to purchase through Clemson University Press and other major retailers, including Barnes & Noble and Amazon.