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ROCKFEST ARCHIVE INDEX |
EXCERPT ON THE 1970 POWDER RIDGE ROCK FESTIVAL FROM “AQUARIUS RISING: THE ROCK FESTIVAL YEARS” BY ROBERT SANTELLI, 1980 Almost at once the promoters filed for an appeal and promised to limit the number of festivalgoers to twenty thousand if the court injunction was dissolved (they had originally expected close to 100,000 people to attend and by July 27 had sold over 18,000 tickets at $20 apiece). The festival's future was indeed cloudy, but young people nevertheless began pouring into Middlefield, confident that the festival would somehow manage to take place. As early as Wednesday, July 28, more than eight thousand festivalgoers were already camped out on the slopes waiting for the weekend's festivities. State Superior Court Judge Aaron Palmer denied the request by promoters for a reverse decision on the injunction and appointed Vincent Scamporino, the state's attorney for Middlesex County, of which Middlefield was a part, to use whatever means necessary to enforce the court order. Scamporino immediately ordered Connecticut state troopers to put up signs on all roads leading to Middlefield stating that the rock festival was called off. Press releases were issued indicating the state's decision to deny an appeal effort, and the residents of Middlefield relaxed. The media had been following the events closely. Metropolitan rock radio stations reported regularly on the developments and advised those with tickets to adopt a wait-and-see attitude. The New York Times and the Daily News ran stories on the legal proceedings and also told of the many young people who were ignoring warnings from Connecticut state officials and going to Powder Ridge anyway. The eight thousand who had been at the festival site on Wednesday had swelled to over twenty thousand by early Friday. There were no signs that the kids were abiding by the court's ruling. Thus Scamporino ordered the state police to close all roads leading to Middlefield to all but local residents. He further stated that any bands that performed at Powder Ridge would be charged with contempt of court and subjected to fines, imprisonment, or both. No one at the Powder Ridge ski resort knew exactly what was going on. The promoters of the event were not to be found, and the responsibility for persuading the kids to leave was left to the owners of the resort area. The festivalgoers had heard about injunctions before but were confident things would be worked out. Very few left the site, and throughout the night more and more people were turning up, slipping through police blockades by walking to the festival area. By Friday afternoon, July 30, close to fifty thousand had set up camp and patiently awaited the commencement of the music. There was talk that the state police were going to move in and forcibly clear the ski resort. But instead of taking such drastic action, Scamporino wisely permitted those who were already at the site to remain until they were convinced that no festival was going to take place. To speed things up local authorities were ordered to turn off the electrical power at the resort. Food and sanitary supplies were also curtailed. Meanwhile, radio stations reported that the festival was officially dead, and those with tickets or with the intention of buying tickets should not bother to come to Middlefield. What followed became known as "the people's free festival of life." Fifty thousand young people camped out on a few gentle ski slopes with nothing to do but wait. Wait for what? Some had hoped that the rock performers would show up and play for free. Others were more realistic. But there were fifty thousand kids in one place. All of them together; there for one reason. The cops were on the outside, and they were on the inside. If they planned a clearing of the site, they would have done it by now, many reckoned. Aggressive festivalgoers urged everyone to stay and make the best of the situation. Throughout the area amateur musicians were jamming for any one interested in listening. "We'll have our own festival!" the campers decided. The spirit of Woodstock lives!  Making use of Powder Ridge ski lift. Photo by UPI
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