It's Time To Celebrate 50 Years of The Dead!

Music is a universal language. You could put 50 people in a room who speak 50 different dialects and they probably won’t be able to hold a conversation. There isn’t anything there to truly bring them together. If you stick those same people in a room and play music, the odds of them joining in song are quite high! Music is universally understood. There are some bands who can connect with one or two cultures with their music, bringing the communities together. It is rare for a band to make that connection worldwide. The Grateful Dead is one of those rarities.

For 50 years, the music of the Grateful Dead has been played in homes, offices, schools and arenas around the world. From the United States to South Korea, the Dead have brought people together with peace, love and good ol’ fun! Stadiums, music venues and parking lots have been filled with people who have come together to celebrate Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Bob Weir, Keith Godchaux, Donna Jean Godchaux, Brent Mydland, Vince Welnick and Jerry Garcia. Fans have come together to mourn the loss of band members. Because of this connection, the fan base that the Grateful Dead created our more than fans. They are family. They are Deadheads. We are Deadheads. We are everywhere. When another Deadhead is in need, we are there. This is the amazing family that the Grateful Dead created and brought together.

 On 4th of July weekend in Chicago, Illinois, the Grateful Dead with do that one more time with their 50^th Anniversary concerts. Some say it won’t be the same without Jerry Garcia. Some say it isn’t the Grateful Dead without Jerry Garcia. It won’t be the same without Jerry. But Jerry’s spirit and life force pulsate through the music of the Grateful Dead and the Deadheads. You honor Jerry by celebrating the music of the Dead. That is what really matters. The Deadhead community has been doing an excellent job preparing for this 50^th Anniversary celebration. MOM and the Woodstock Gang have joined in on the preparation.

Although we won’t be able to make it out to Chicago for the concerts, we are having one at the store. Woodstock has lawn concerts every spring/summer/fall for people of all ages. Some are unable to take the time to go to Chicago or get tickets. We want to bring that amazing Grateful Dead spirit to the lawn with some great local bands. The Jugband will be supplying the music for our celebration. Keep an eye on our Events Calendar and Facebookpage for more information on the concert. We also have wonderful 50thAnniversary items. Artist Mike DuBois has designed amazing artwork for the Dead for years. He has come up with another beautiful design for the Anniversary. We carry this design in stickers, t-shirts (solid and tie dye) and signed posters. There are also other sticker designs available. A 50th Anniversary fleece blanket just came in and other items will soon arrive.

Whether you need that 50^th Anniversary item for the show, something to celebrate with at home, or you just want to talk about those amazing Grateful Dead moments (that you can remember), come on down to Woodstock Trading Company. You will always be in the company of “Grate” Deadheads!

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

The Afterthoughts of the 2013 Garlic Festival

September 25, 2013

Every year, I look forward to our Garlic Festival and this year was no exception. I would like to give a big THANK YOU to The Jugband for supplying the most wonderful live music and making a happy bed for the next year’s harvest. That is an important thing, singing and playing music for the planting bed and the garlic. Without that, we would get a lackluster crop. I would also like to thank all the local artists and craftsmen who came out to display their original works. It was so nice to meet all of you and to see your wonderful work. Finally, I would like to thank all of the great people who came out to Woodstock Trading Company. We had so many and are so thankful that you came out and had a wonderful.

Preparing the garlic bed for the 2014 crop. That black stuff is manure. We let Jim do that.

The Garlic Festival has been going on for so long now; the exact date has slipped my mind. It is a true Woodstock tradition, up there with the Maypole. As we have done for so many years, we distribute the garlic from last year’s crop, grown in front of the Woodstock building.

Mom giving away the first bag of 2013 garlic.

The next planting will be the week of Columbus Day weekend. The most exciting thing for me is seeing the garlic grow during the cold weeks and months of winter. Many of the recipients of the Woodstock bulbs contact me via Facebook and send me pictures of their fledgling garlic as soon as they break through the Earth. This is one of my greatest joys! To see new life in the cold of winter and sharing the wealth with all those who used our 2013 garlic bulbs, it is just marvelous.

The growing garlic

Fondly,
MOM

Who Is The Million Dollar Quartet?

July 9, 2013

Hey Now! Jim from Woodstock Trading Company, here, and I want to tell you all about an awesome new item that Woodstock has in stock. The item that I speak of is “The Million Dollar Quartet” poster. Does the name ring any bells? If you are a fan of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, or Carl Perkins, the name might mean something to you. If not, let me fill you in on the back-story.

The Million Dollar Quartet Poster. From Left To Right- Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash.
Click on the image to go to our website.

Back in December of 1956, a 21-year-old Elvis decided to pay a visit to his old recording studio, Sun Records in Memphis, TN. Carl Perkins was already in the studio cutting some new material with is brothers, Jay and Clayton and drummer W.S. Holland. Studio owner, Sam Phillips, had brought in a then, unknown, Jerry Lee Lewis to play piano for the session. While the five musicians played away in the studio, Elvis and Phillips were having a chat in the engineering booth. The King of Rock n’ Roll approached Perkins and the gang after hearing the playback of the recording session and the jam began to start. A short time later, Johnny Cash walked into the studio and joined the jam session. This became the first documented “Super Group”. The rest is history.

The “Million Dollar Quartet” poster is great for any music fan, young or old. It truly captures a great moment in music history. Without these four men, music might not be what it is today. If you are looking for an eye-catching image to add to your wall, look no further. This poster is just amazing. Stop by our website or click on the image above to check it out.

Take care everyone and we hope to see you soon... Jim of Woodstock

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