Peace, love and rock 'n' roll

The Jerusalem Woodstock Revival promises a heady mix of 1960s nostalgia.

By GIL STERN STERN ZOHAR
If you missed the legendary Woodstock Festival at Max Yasgur's Farm in August of 1969, here's your chance to capture the Summer of Love - without the rain and mud. Jerusalem is set to rock with a five-hour music marathon on Tu Be'av (Wednesday, August 5), the traditional Jewish day of love. The event, commemorating 40 years since the historic three-day Woodstock Festival attracted an estimated 500,000 hippies to upstate New York, is happening at the Kraft Family Stadium at the north end of Sacher Park. Gates open at 5 p.m., with the first of the five bands coming on stage an hour later. The benefit concert is being organized by American Football in Israel, a Jerusalem-based not-for-profit group headquartered at the Kraft Stadium, and is sponsored by the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel (AACI). The Jerusalem Woodstock Revival line-up includes renowned Israeli artist Geva Alon paying tribute to Neil Young; celebrated blues guitarist Ronnie Peterson playing Bob Dylan; singer-guitarist Lazer Lloyd from the rock band Yood rendering some of Jimi Hendrix's classics; and Eliyahu Sidikman's acclaimed Crosby, Stills and Nash tribute band Long Time Gone. "The Doors will be set on fire by the band Crystal Ship in the spirit of Woodstock," says events promoter Carmi Wurtman, who brought Macy Gray to the capital in May for Students Day. Purists may argue that Jim Morrison didn't play at the original Woodstock Festival. But, Wurtman counters, "Like The Beatles and a few other world-famous bands, The Doors weren't at Woodstock - but they should have been!" Similarly, you could say the Summer of Love should have been in 1969 instead of two years earlier. For Philadelphia-born Wurtman, who last year brought Woodstock legend Joe Cocker to Israel, the historical details aren't critical. "It's all about the music," he says. "Bring blankets, even if there won't be any mud like the original Woodstock," says publicist Nadia Levene. "Max Yasgur's niece Abigail Yasgur, who co-wrote Max Said Yes as a tribute to her uncle, is coming to the Jerusalem Woodstock Revival," she adds. "I missed the original Woodstock Festival and have regretted it ever since," says Kraft Stadium director Steve Leibowitz. "I believe that the music of Woodstock impacted Western culture in a way that no music festival or performer ever has since." "I think it's fitting that our Woodstock Revival is happening on Tu Be'av," says concert manager Danny Gewirtz. "We hope that the stadium will be full of peace, love and rock 'n' roll. In any case, we promise to provide the rock 'n' roll!" Blues guitarist Mark Rashkow, who opened for Michael Jackson and other major bands before moving here from Chicago in 2003, is the only musician involved with the revival festival who attended the 1969 Woodstock. Rashkow is slated to jam with other musicians during a guest performance. For more information and tickets, see woodstockrevival.com