Image Via Professor Poster
The Miami Pop Festival was the name of two different music festivals that took place here in 1968.
The first festival took place May 18–19, 1968 and featured:
Steppenwolf, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Chuck Berry, The Blues Image, Pacific Gas and Electric, Three Dog Night, The Mothers of Invention, Blue Cheer and the Crazy World of Arthur Brown.
The second festival was held December 28–30, 1968 and featured:
Procol Harum, The Turtles, The Grass Roots, Three Dog Night, Jose Feliciano, The Blues Image, The Box Tops, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Hugh Masekela, Pacific Gas and Electric, Fleetwood Mac, Richie Havens, The Sweet Inspirations, Joni Mitchell, Jr. Walker & The Allstars, The McCoys, Sweetwater, The James Cotton Blues Band, Canned Heat, The Charles Lloyd Quartet, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Ian & Sylvia, Country Joe and The Fish, Buffy St. Marie, Steppenwolf, The Amboy Dukes, Iron Butterfly, The Grateful Dead, and Marvin Gaye.
Gulfstream Park
901 S. Federal Highway
Hallandale Beach FL 33009
954 454-7000
I photographed the 1968 MPF, I’m working with film producer, Jack Connell to produce a documentary about this event. The MPF was Michael Lang’s first production, and is where WOODSTOCK was BORN !!!!!!!! you can see my photographs at http://www.oldrockphoto.com/miamipop.html
Peace, Ken Davidoff
This was the first concert I ever went to. I remember a couple of things…1: when the Mothers came on stage they all walked to the edge of the stage, sat down with legs/feet dangling over the edge, and, in unison, gave the “bird” to the audience. They then got up and started playing. 2: The Crazy World of Arthur Brown…the lead singer climbed to the top of the scaffolding during one of their songs…he was pretty high up and probably pretty high. 3: John Lee Hooker…had never heard of him but really got into the blues after hearing him. 4: Jimi Hendrix…coming in on a helicopter.
2nd Festival at Gulfstream
In December of ’68 I walked through the stables and across the track on two days to avoid paying for tickets into the rock festival at Gulfstream. It was well worth the walk. I will never forget the tableau of white anti-war statues or the musical performances. When Steppenwolf was setting up there was a cop onstage wearing a motorcycle helmet and black sunglasses. We were all wondering what the hell the cop was doing there. Then the bands started doing the opening chords of a song and the cop ripped off his motorcycle helmet and all this long dark hair came spilling out. The ‘cop’ was John Kay. They gave a hell of a performance.
Corrections are needed: The May festival did not feature Three Dog Night, Steppenwolf or PG&E, all of whom played at the December festival. As for the December festival line-up, both the McCoys and Booker T. & the M.G.s were no-shows.
I snuck in both festivals and had a cool time.Jimi was great and the Dead were mystical.Free food,dope and everybody was laid back.
1968 POP FESTIVAL with THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE, FRANK ZAPPA THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION, THE BLUE CHEER, JOHN LEE HOOKER, CHUCK BERRY, ARTHUR BROWN, TINY TIM, BLUES IMAGE. It was a EXPERIENCE to say the least! It changed my life forever, you can understand why that is. To witness Jimi Hendrix flying in on a helicopter then hovering over the stage and Jimi comes down a ladder (see Jimi Hendrix WOODSTOCK CD – MCAD-11063 MCA inside booklet first page). Jimi Hendrix live in his gypsy clothing in front of you as he does his thing with no holds back. Also to see Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention outrages music, just like living in WERE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY album what a mind blower.