Holiday Mode

It is Thanksgiving eve and Black Friday is rearing his ugly head around the corner. We all know that the real start of the holiday shopping season starts on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Life can get hectic and unbearable within the shopping world. There are so many individuals out there who worry about finding the right item, finding the item at a store or online, and hopping that the business still has the item when it is time to purchase. It can drive you crazy!

We, at Woodstock, understand this craziness and are here to help. Believe me; the holiday season is hard on us, too. But we know it is coming and are ready. The customer is our top priority. If you are not happy, we are not happy. Our customers are our family. We want our family to be happy. This is the truth. This is the way it has been since 1988. The Woodstock gang has seen the same customers since they were children. Now the children are bringing in their own children. We have grown with you. Therefore, when you come in to get a gift for your family, we want to help you find that perfect gift.

There is something for everyone at Woodstock Trading Company. We have beads and jewelry supplies for the crafter. If your gift is for the music fan, you know we have you covered. The rock n' roll t-shirt is the classic gift item. You want the Grateful Dead? You know we have it. You want the Allman Brothers? We have it. If you want something different from the usual shirt, we have knowledgeable staff that will find something for you. If you are getting a gift for a collector, we have things like holiday ornaments, many are very difficult to find now. There are band pins and buttons, one-of-a-kinds and hard-to-finds. Here is a little secret about our buttons. We got many of them from a gentleman by the name of Phil Ceccola. He was a photographer and friend to MOM and Seth. Look up his name and see who else he was friends with... One popular thing that people look for is bar items. We have pint sets, mugs, wine glasses, and classic signs to decorate the bar or man-cave. If you are looking for something special for your wife, girlfriend, sister, or mother, we have excellent jewelry and clothing. Take a look and take a sniff of the fragrant Auric Blends perfumes.

Come in and just ask for help. If you are ordering online, don't be afraid to give us a call or shoot us an email. The Woodstock gang understands the roughness of the holiday shopping season. We are here to help get your through. 

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays!

Take Care,

Mom, Seth, and The Woodstock Gang

For The Love of Music, Let It Be Live!

September 19, 2011

The music scene can be difficult for local bands to get their start in the Philadelphia area, especially with the closing of two iconic venues, The Trocadero in Philadelphia and The Pennant, right here in Southern NJ. That is why, for decades now, I have offered my personal support and love featuring the talents of local bands on our lawn to give them a presence here. It is an opportunity to hone their craft, build confidence and spread the word. Woodstock Trading Company has helped to launch the careers of now well-known jam bands like Bohemian Sunrise, Splintered Sunlight, Leftover Salmon and The Disco Biscuits, who performed here on our lawn in the early 90s.

Solar Circus at WTC, circa early 90s

Solar Circus also boosted their career here with the launch of their LP (yes, we are dating ourselves) They have since grown to become The Juggling Suns. And, Mr. Charlie also comes to mind. This psychedelic band has become a staple in Philadelphia and Southern NJ with new sounds and songs on the horizon for them.

The Jugband performs at WTC 22nd Anniversary, 8/1/2010

And, let’s not forget The Jugband! Fran is such a creative soul. He has recently gathered a new crop of talented musicians to reach well beyond the borders of the Dead, debuting this 7-piece electric reggae and rock cover band in bars throughout Southern NJ since launching their new sound at our May Pole Festival earlier this year. Their vocal harmonies and jugband twist on songs from Paul Simon, The Band, Allman Brothers and Marley will make you smile and shake your bones. Dana Smith, our esteemed pr guru here at Woodstock, joined the band as a vocalist after jumping up and singing a tune with them on a whim last summer right here on our lawn. Talk about getting your start at Woodstock Trading Company!

Merle Saunders plants a tree at WTC. Circa early 90s

We’ve also had the pleasure of spotlighting such great talents as Vince Welnick, formerly of the Grateful Dead and Merle Saunders, the acoustic yin to Jerry Garcia’s yang. Merle was a gracious man, who helped us to plant our dogwood tree. We rededicated this tree years later in memory of Merle. We put a little angel in the tree to commemorate his spirit. As Lori Constantine, a talented keyboardist played that day, a little bird came down to sing along beside her. The dogwood has now grown to provide a shady respite for those who come out to enjoy live music here.

Society has changed so much since we opened our doors over two decades ago. With the advent of technology, people don’t interact as much. Live music is a binding force of nature. It touches the heart in a way that a recording cannot. It brings us together.

I encourage local bands to make their mark upon the community. Call me at 856-424-6166 or email me your information at wtc@woodstocktradeco.com. Let me know when and where you are playing, so I can encourage others to seek you out to enjoy your creative talents. We are already planning for our spring lawn concerts next year, so send me some demos and let’s get you out there where you belong…bringing joy and happiness to others through live music.

And, I encourage all of you, the music lovers, to come on out and share in these momentous moments of new found talent, so you can look back someday and say, "Hey, I know that band. Wow, look at them now!"

Love...Mom