The Lawn Is Open For Music!

For the past month, we have been trying to get our summer concerts started, only to be delayed.  All the delays have been out of our control.  From illness to bad weather, it just seemed like Woodstock Trading Company wouldn’t get to have our lawn concerts.  As July 4^th approached, along with the final performances of the Grateful Dead, we were determined to get a show in to honor the Dead’s 50 anniversary.  Not only would we have a great lawn concert on the 4^th of July, we would have a day filled with the Grateful Dead.  Excitement was in the air. That was until we saw the weather reports.  The reports fluctuated all week between 20% chance of rain and 70% chance.  We did our “anti-rain dance” and kept our fingers crossed.  Making a decision a few days or day before seemed impossible.  We pressed on.

Saturday came along. The sun was out, the rain clouds seemed far off as Franny and The Jugband set the stage.  Then it started to get dark.  The band tried to hold out.  We were getting nervous.  People started to show and the phone was ringing. The big question was, “is the show happening?”  Rain was slowly coming down, but Franny gave the nod.  2 songs in and the rain wasn’t stopping.  The Jugband went into “Bertha”, everything changed.  The clouds began to move and sunlight started to peak through. “Bertha” scared the rain away and the lawn began to fill with more people.  With the help of The Jugband, Woodstock had an amazing celebration of the Grateful Dead.  It was a proper “thank you”!

 

We have more concerts planned.  On July 25^th, a great group by the name of Rock-Improv-A-Ganza will be here to take over the lawn.  The Improv guys will be here with comedian, Jason Pollock, to give us a one-of-a-kind show filled with fun, games, creativity, and laughter.  This event is for all ages. We also have plans for the Garlic Festival and a 60s British Invasion Tribute.  Keep a close eye on our Facebook page, Newsletters, and Events Page for more info.  If you haven’t signed up for our newsletter, just follow the “WTC Newsletter” page to the left.

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!

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

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

Why a May Pole Celebration

April 29, 2011

People have asked me...why a May Pole celebration?

In 1958, I was the beloved queen of The Estrella Triangle Daughters of the Eastern Star (a female branch of Masons)..I had regalia..I even wore a gown one year. I have always been the queen! When I was in kindergarten, we had a spring celebration and I was supposed to be queen of the May...the maypole. But, I got the chicken pox and couldn't go! So now I get to be queen of the May each and every year.

May Day was initially a pagan right of fertility and spring...now, it's just
a fun thing. There’s music and laughter and joy. Most people have never seen
a maypole, but it used to be done all the time when I was young.

When we decided to host the first May Day Celebration on the lawn here at
Woodstock Trading Company many years ago, we had to put things together
to create a maypole. We went to the hardware store and bought some PVC,
later we used a galvanized pole realizing this would become a permanent
annual event. We needed an additional couple of feet to make it
proper...tall enough for length of ribbon, that we screw on to the top to
attach the ribbons to it.

Everyone gets a ribbon...we dance to music and you interweave with one
another to form designs on the pole with the ribbons. It is particularly fun
for the kids ...and it's free. Just come on out and enjoy spring...period!
No worries that it takes me 2 weeks to untangle all the ribbons when you’re
gone. LOL!

Come on out and celebrate spring!

SUNDAY MAY 1ST FROM 12-4PM. LIVE MUSIC: THE JUGBAND www.thejugband.com