Former Location –
This ex-racetrack is probably best known for hosting the Newport Pop Festival on the three-day weekend of June 20–22, 1969. This show was attended by about 200,000 people. The performers were:
Friday, June 20, 1969
Ike & Tina Turner, Albert King, Edwin Hawkins Singers, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Joe Cocker, Southwind, Spirit and Taj Mahal.
Saturday, June 21, 1969
Albert Collins, Brenton Wood, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Charity, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Eric Burdon and War, Friends of Distinction, Jethro Tull, Lee Michaels, Love, Steppenwolf and Sweetwater.
Sunday, June 22, 1969
Booker T. & the M.G.’s, The Chambers Brothers, The Flock, The Grass Roots, Johnny Winter, Marvin Gaye, Mother Earth, Jimi Hendrix jam with Buddy Miles, Eric Burdon and Mother Earth, Poco, The Byrds, The Rascals and Three Dog Night.
Other Notable Concerts Played At Devonshire Downs Include:
10/15/1988 – Bad Religion
10/31/1981 – The Cramps
9/11/1981 – Black Flag
1/16/1970 – Cass Elliot
7/16/1967 – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
7/16/1967 – Country Joe and the Fish
7/16/1967 – The Doors
7/16/1967 – Jefferson Airplane
7/15/1967 – Canned Heat
7/15/1967 – Iron Butterfly
It’s currently the north campus of California State University Northridge.
Devonshire Downs
Devonshire just west of Zelzah
Northridge CA 91330
Yes, in 1969 I turned 14 years old and my parents didn’t have a clue they had bought me tickets for a 3 day concert to see some of the biggest name bands in the world. It was awesome, and what an experience it was for this little girl of 14. I saw things that I had never seen before. Jimmy Hendrix actually had sex on stage in front of thousands of people. True story. It was so hot they had water trucks with hoses watering people down and people were smoking pot everywhere. I had never seen any of this kind of stuff before. This was a new experience, but I never tried the pot. I saw Poco, Creedence Clearwater Revival and so many more bands that I can’t remember. Just take the time to read about this concert. It was a preview for Woodstock, just this one was in the city. Now I am 55 years old and a grandmother of a 14 year old granddaughter. I would not let her go to a concert like that. Isn’t that horrible of me. But that is the way things go now.
As a participant musician I get that; I watched a lady dancing in the scaffolding Sat. during dusk. 95K people at that moment !~
I remember the girls on the scaffolding. Thanks for the memory. I was 15 years old.
Me too. I lived down the street.
Unless I am mistaken, and I know I’m not, that “lady” in the scaffolding was Kiki Dee. But I remember it as occurring after the Sunday show, like the after show. Kiki had been there with Eric Burdon on the previous day, also with Burdon. Eric had intorduced her when she did a song with him the day before, and he introduced her again. I loved that song. The band was thrown together guitars, bass, drums, horns, flutes, organ, but the horns were critical to it, trumpets it seemed to me. She was singing the lyrics, and the trumpets were responding to her calls. She would end a verse, and they’d do something like an echo of the last few syllables, or she would call out “HEY” then a little blast from the trumpets, another HEY, and so on. It was not disco, because disco didn’t exist yet. It eventually did get recorded, but not by Kiki, which I always thought was a huge shame because she nailed it that evening. She continued to do harmonies, back ups, other little vocal parts throughout that monster final jam session. She was the one really bright, unexpected performer that I loved at that show. She had a career in Brittain in the following decades but doing more like Disco and pop. She could rock too.
Yep. I saw Eric Burdon climb up there after he jammed with JIMI on Sunday.
I was 15.
1st concert I ever attended stone cold sober, never even had a sip of beer (I was an athlete).
Hell’s Angel’s + Street Racers of LA were Security for the show.
Packed in like sardines, no aisles, wtf are the bathrooms?
Jimi played for 3 1/2 hours. I was 25-30 feet away from him. BLEW MY EFFIN MIND.
Totally rearranged my DNA. Instead of an athlete, I started to be more like a hippie, I guess.
It was the best day of my life.
It changed my life.
We almost went home- there blocks of LA City cops in full Riot Gear, hogging the whole sidewalk with their batons raised.
The were beating everyone down, harsh.
Rumor was it was cancelled.
Everybody was walking AWAY from the festival, we were the only ones walking toward it.
Nobody was in line. We bought our ticket for $5-6 bucks and went in.
No water.
Sat on your ass, no chairs or grandstands.
Jimi was screaming high on acid, beyond any show I’d ever seen for 50+ years.
I was there too. If I had a granddaughter I would let her go if I could go too. ?
I was there Jimi didnt fuck anyone on stage. Get a life…
I was there too and you are correct, Jimi did not have sex on stage.
I was there, too. Jimi did not have sex on stage. Please, enough with the bs stud stories. Treat him as the great musician he was.
And: on Friday I was sitting on top of the light tower with my dad and twin brother (my dad had press passes and they let us up there). There was a guy with a big video camera (like a studio camera) filming everything. I remember him asking one of the follow spot guys whether Jimi moved around a lot on stage [Spirit had just finished their set and Randy California had been moving all over the place]. Follow spot guy said not to worry, something to the effect that he stays close to the effects pedals. Anybody ever see any of the Friday tapes? know where to get/view them? Thanks.
Would love to see those videos, I was there on the Friday show:)🎶
I was there pretty close to the stage and no, Jimi did not have sex on the stage. Friday night he was in a bad mood. Did not play long and flipped everyone off and left the stage.
He came back Sunday and was out of his mind GREAT, jamming with Eric Burdon and Buddy Miles and I thought Janis Joplin came out. Am I wrong about Joplin, I don’t think so. (Who is Mother Earth?)
Joe Cocker was good on Friday, Credence was good Saturday. Jethro Tull was always good no matter where I saw them. Go Ian!!
I thought Janis was there, however, would be great to know one way or another.
JIMI HAD VIRTUAL SEX WITH JANIS JOPLIN SITTING ON TOP OF ERIC BURDON AND JIMI WAS PRETENDING TO HAVE SEX BY LUNGING HIS GUITAR NECK AT BURDONS ASS AND GETTING FEEDBACK!!! AND THATS THE TRUTH!!!
I was there too and I remember jimi telling everyone to fuck off. He was in a bad mood. Then he jammed with Janis. I remember his yellow scarf blowing in the wind on stage. Not sure which night. Also, agreed, he did not have sex with anyone. How ridiculous for someone to say that.
You’re right Rico. I was 17 and there all day of all 3 days. No cops were beating anyone. I don’t understand why people need to blow things out of proportion.
I was there the 3rd day, I was 15 and I remember seeing that beautiful brunette woman dancing on that scaffolding above us while we were dancing on the grass! Hendrix was last of course. We were so lucky to see so many legendary bands that day! I went with one of my friends from Hamilton high school, we went on a whim,two 15 yr old girls from West LA. I remember she peed her pants because of the lack of bathrooms! Leslie Saltman where are you? Hahaha!
Jimi did NOT have sex on stage. You must have been hallucinating!
I don’t remember everything that happened because I was stoned out of my mind and got hauled off to jail on the second day of the festival.
We didn’t have money to get in, so my brother rushed in and tried to hurdle the turnstiles. The police were everywhere. I could see a group of them, their helmets sticking up through the crowd, as they marched in where my brother was getting pummeled by those who caught him. It was total chaos!
In my drug-induced insanity, I picked up a big rock and threw it toward them from 30 or 40 yards away. A hand went up and caught the rock, thank God, because if it had hit and killed someone, I might still be in jail today. After throwing the rock, I noticed a police officer running toward me with club in hand. I took off running but then saw other police officers running at me from several directions. After realizing I was not going to get away, I sat with my elbows on the outside of my knees and my hands cupped on top of my head for protection from the approaching clubs. I was lucky because the first policeman who got to me only hit me once in the shin with his club, arrested me, and took me to the police bus which later took me off to jail. Blood ran down my leg and seeped into my Hush Puppy (Hush Puppies were a popular shoe of the day). By the next day, in jail, the dried blood made me smell like I had died and was rotting. Some of the people in jail did not get off so easy. One guy had been beat over the head and had been stitched up like a dog.
As is most always the case for unrepentant criminals, I lied in court and claimed I was standing there and only took off running because I saw a police officer running toward me with a club.
The offense of “Assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer” was dropped to “disturbing the peace” and after the trial I was sentenced to 10 days in the Los Angeles County Jail.
It took another two years and many people, Jesus Freaks we called them, coming to me and telling me about God’s love for sinners, that I admitted my evil and turned to the Lord Jesus Christ in genuine repentance, receiving the forgiveness of my sins and literally becoming a new creation as is written about in the Bible.
My conversion was in 1971 and I have never been the same! I have been involved in international missions, became fluent in two foreign languages, and became a pastor. God’s grace is sufficient!
As for Hendrix having sex on stage, I think it may have been with his guitar, as he was known to do.
I was there and I think you made it all up.
Bull crap about Jimi having sex..be serious.
In 69’ I was almost 18 , Alma drove the VW bus with Kenny, Debbie and me . We took little cash and left San Diego to attend one of my favorite events ever! Everyone was free to do as they pleased with little to no supervision from anyone. Was truly a great 3 days of music 🎶 and freaks wandering around smoking pot and dropping acid , yeah I said LSD ! We ( Deb and I ) walked around and found a spot to sleep overnight since the two remaking were in the bus making music 🎶 of their own ! Around day two we became very hungry so Debbie concocted a plan to acquire some $ and so we were able to walk across the street to KFC for some much needed nourishment. We took the food back to our spot and ate with hungry onlookers checking us out. Most asked where we got KFC because they came for miles to attend. We all reunited after day two and the rest was history. Free love was about to happen as Debbie and Kenny took advantage of the long ride back to San Diego and did a little smootchie – smooching under the covers. Things were so much looser back then , that no one cared ! Meanwhile I stayed all to myself and didn’t bother with the love makings. My boyfriend Jack couldn’t go with us so I remained faithful. The whole event was one of greatness to add to my collection of concerts and events of the sixties! The details of this video show very little of the bands that were there. Very , very disappointing to watch for me .
I was there, but it was in the 60’s , so I don’t remember a lot about it.
I know what you mean! (laughing face!)
I was also there, I had just graduated from High school in Wisconsin and my
family was visiting my uncle and aunt. My cousins had tickets and my
brother and I went with them. It was amazing, bands were terrific and yes
pot was everywhere. My granddaughter is now a senior in high school and
I’m sure she would be there if she could.
After my high school graduation (in San Diego—East County) in 1969, Wes, Nate, Ralph and I drove up to Devonshire Downs (Orange County), where Newport 69 was held. We saw Jimi Hendrix and lots of other people there, and there was also a little police riot at the entrance, after bikers had terrorized the town on Friday night.
The crowd booed Hendrix on Friday (?) night because he would not play until we backed off and let him arrive in his Cadillac. He and we were pissed, but he made up for that lousy show in the jam session on Sunday, when he did an acoustic set. That was the most amazing Hendrix performance I ever saw–my third at the time. The man could play the guitar.
What dis’ boy be talkin’ ’bout Orange County??? Err’one here confirms that this was in Granada Hills, San Fernando Valley, L.A. County.
On Devonshire St between Zelzah and Lindley. Today it is a medical corporate headquarters. I remember going to carnivals, fairs and Halloween Haunts there in the 70′ and 80’s.
I was there just graduated from porter junior high
And saw the chamber brothers Joe cocker did with a little help from my friends girls with no braw the best
I was there on Sunday and I recall that when the Chamber Brothers came on it was just after dusk and they played Time Has Come Today and I was tripping on the strobe lights that were keyed to the beat. I was 15 and I had rode my bicycle from Sunland
That’s right Time Has Come Today!! The Chambers Brothers–was great.
We are doing a 50th Anniversary Special at the San Fernando Valley Museum. ANYONE WHO HAS ANY PHOTOGRAPHS AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THEM AT THIS EVENT, PLEASE CONTACT THE EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW.
The memorial event will be held this coming August. All photographs will be returned to the proper owner after the event and credit will be given for the source of the photo.
RM 6/28/2019
I was there. I was new in the Air Force, assigned at Victorville. But, I’d grown up in Chula Vista, south of San Diego. Some friends and I went. It was an experience, indeed. Some great musicians. And wild partying. Wish I had some photos. There sure weren’t cell phones and the Insta back then!
I had just finished my freshman year of high school in San Diego County. I wasn’t quite 15 and my boyfriend was a year older. Neither of us drove yet. I had lived in the Valley prior to high school, and my family had good friends in the old neighborhood. I was dying to go to the festival, so my mom, a widow with 5 kids – I being the oldest and most persuasive – talked her into taking us up there on Friday. She dropped us off and then stayed at our friends with my younger brothers and sisters. It was one of those unforgettable landmarks of growing up. The coolest thing was that everyone around us sitting on the grass was happy, excited, and friendly. We had heard about bad shit going down with the Hells Angels, but didn’t witness any of it. We felt like the youngest ones there., but no one treated us that way. People shared their food with us, we were offered joints and swigs from bota bags. We passed on the joints, but had a couple of swallows of the wine, and just felt this oneness with the crowd enveloped in a beautiful musical haze. My mom was supposed to pick us up at midnight, but we stayed inside the venue until almost 2 in the morning, delirious from an entire day and evening of musical energy. My favorites of the day were Creedance Clearwater, Jethro Tull, Steppenwolf, Albert Collins, and Eric Burdon and War. I wish I had ticket stubs and the old poster.
I was there and had just graduated in January from Birmingham high School. What a concert on Sunday! I was so blown away by Hendrix! Walking around in bell bottoms and sandals with my mouth hanging open at all the “stuff” going on around me, managed to cut my foot on glass. I remember it being very hot, I was very thirsty, and covered in dust. What a memorable concert!
I was also there with my younger sister and my future brother-in-law. It was wild sitting on burlap listening to the multitude of people pouring in over the out houses. The bonfires started up throughout Devonshire Downs. Saw Steppenwolf, waited and waited for Creedence Clearwater Revival. Pot smoke so thick in the air, jugs of wine with pills floating in them; people dressed very colorful, smoking pot even though they were with their young, stars! I was quite naive at that time in my life! We didn’t plan on staying overnight but had parked in a lot with cars everywhere. Luckily they were able to get us out of that lot! What a memory! I do have photographs but they are in storage.
I attended that show as well, wow 69 was an amazing year, things were changing in the world, they need to change again, badly maybe even more so then that time. I’m not sure which day went to at this time, think it was Sunday, all I know it was great, had an amazing time and wish we could do something like that now at a reasonable price. Yes, had more than fun on the way home, can’t say but it felt good!! I had the poster for years, lost now but what a time, peace to all….
I was there on Sunday, 14 years old. I went with a 16 year old guy I had just met, I was shocked my parents let me but I think they were so happy to see me away from my boyfriend I had just broken up with they said ok. It was a wild experience, pot everywhere, some on lsd. The music was great and it was the first time I saw Hendrix, saw him a year later at the swing auditorium. I never saw the guy again that took me but hey, thanks for the memories!
i was there with my brother & my lady friend & another friend. all of us on acid. did saturday & sunday. met a group of people there that were also tripping. that was about 50yrs ago. we are all still best of friends & stay in touch all the time. i was 30 then & am now 80. what a long strange trip its been. IF YOU PUT DEVONSHIRE DOWNS INTO GOOGLE YOU CAN GET A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL POSTER.
I went with my brother and a rad chick. Can’t remember all the gastronomic details but the lady and I finished a gallon bottle of wine on both Saturday and Sunday. My most vivid memory(?) is of Love, Steppenwolf, CCR, Grass Roots and Chambers Brothers all in a row, one after the other. We were right next to the stage a little to the right of center and had fantastic views of the performers. Maybe should have married the chick; she was a trouper.
I was in a band in north west Indiana, about 30 miles from Chicago. I finished playing a gig one night, took my drums home, packed a back and headed to L.A. with a couple friends. It wasn’t til I got there that I found out all my friends ad tickets to this so I made sure to get mine. I seriously don’t know how some of you people remember so much about it. I know it was a great time and I know I saw Jimi. So that’s good enough for me.
I was 17, had my first car and Tickets to the best thing in my life. I lived in Bakersfield, Cal. at the time, my friend Kenny and I were there in no time. The only bad thing was we had to leave Sunday afternoon so we could get to work Monday. But it was the most Beautiful thing I had ever done in my young life. The music was awesome, Jimi was great, one of the main reasons to go. I even met a Beautiful Black headed young lady working the Concession stands. I never got her address or phone, I figured as Beautiful as she was I would just be a forgotten memory in a few days. I still have great memories and some very Mellow hours listening and passing the tokes around.
15 years old still in high school, best concert ever. Hendrix, Spirit, the Sunday Jam… so many great and different sounding bands. Camped out for all three days. Cannot remember the ticket price… maybe$50? Permanent memories. Living in southern California back then we saw lots of bands every month and tickets were cheap. Good times.
was the greatest time of my life, i was 17 and high as a kite all 3 days
Our graduation was held that Fri night, less than 1/4 mi from the Downs–Granada Hills High. While we were waiting to hear our names called for our diplomas, we could hear Jimi over the summer air. I had a ticket for Sunday–still remember the Chamber Bros, the Rascals, etc. What a blast for a new grad. One of the first concerts for me (the first was Battle of the Bands at Birmingham High, with Strawberry Alarm Clock, the Doors, & others); just turned 70 on Nov 6–in Vegas for the Stones. So many memories, so much GREAT music!!!!!!!!!!
I was there on Sat. the 21st . My friends and I drove in my old vw bus with no brakes, we made it by down shifting and used a block wall at a gas station to make our final stop. Janis Joplin was there, I remember tripping out on her shoes, Jimi was there too, yet I do not see them on the play list. What a deal all that for $6.00. I can not even afford to go to concerts today.
Wonderful weekend. Someone stole my sleeping bag while I was tripping. Drizzling rain first night. Didn’t get much sleep that weekend. But caught a bunch of great music. Remember eating watermelon and drinking red mountain wine with my friends in the middle of a gate crasher/police riot one afternoon (Mad John, are you still kick’n?). I’ve been telling people for years I saw Hendricks and Joplin together on stage there – was it Friday night? I’ve been told since the woman who sang with Hendricks that evening was someone else. Who was she? Memories of Devonshire are a now an ecstatic blur. So glad I went.
My friend I were there Saturday afternoon, overnight and to the end Sunday. We were 19 and drove there from the LA city side in his recently modified Austin Healy Mark III sports car to which he added a 350 Chevy engine, wheel flares and big tires. Made an impression as we drove in. I don’t remember any bad incidents, we sat on the grass about 100 feet from the stage enjoying every act, I distinctly remember The Chambers Brothers doing “Time Has Come Today.” Also, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Burdon, actually everyone was terrific. It’s been a very positive memory for me to this day.
Correction, a 327 engine.
15 years old. In the valley–LA City Schools–9th grade was in Junior High. So we has just “graduated” from 9th grade (Columbus Junior High in Canoga Park). I was there for just one day–the day with Credence and Steppenwolf. Funny, but what I remember most was just the freedom of hanging out with so many like-minded people, smoking cigarettes (which we had never done before), smelling the pot in the air, and trying to pick up girls. It was a thrilling experience.
I also remember, a couple weeks before, flyers advertising the show at my junior high and how it blew our minds that all these bands were going to be in the valley (San Fernando Valley). So glad I went and thanks to all the comments and great memories!!
Funny to find this string. I was 20 & lived a few minutes from Cal State Northridge. Friday I was in line with a lady when cops charged people trying to storm the gates. My lady was injured and we never saw Friday concerts. Luckily one of the cops was someone I knew since elementary school and he helped us get first aid. Went back with friends on Saturday, watched the entire day and spent the night in the damp parking lot. Sunday was a total crazy. Don’t know how many people remember the bonfires & at least one of the concession tents burning as the Rascals finished up. I knew members of Spirit & Love from local valley gigs and they didn’t stop talking about this event for a log time.
Ohmigosh, it’s great reading all these comments. Takes me right back to those days! It was a prelude to Woodstock. I was 15 and somehow got my dad to take me and a couple of my girlfriends there. He dropped us off and I can’t imagine what he thought. Sadly, I was so stoned I can barely remember any of it. Guys walking around hawking Orange Sunshine and Purple Owsley. Warnings about bad mescaline. What I do remember is having a great time with some amazing music. I vaguely remember Hendrix and Spirit. I could have sworn Linda Ronstadt was there with the Stone Poneys, but don’t see her/them listed anywhere here. Hot and dusty. Outhouses for toilets. The Hells Angels were hired for security, as I recall. One of my girlfriends wandered over and sat on one of their bikes. We all froze in fear, but one of the Angels’ girlfriends brought her back over to us and gently but firmly told us to keep an eye on her. Remember the cops in riot gear, people swarming the fences to get in. Damn, we had good times. A singular moment in time.