When the decision was finally reached to hold Mysteryland USA on the iconic Woodstock festival grounds, music lovers around the world were a mixed bag of emotions. Old timers condemned the decision, their mindsets ripe with hostility toward music they believe to be a hoax. How could the town of Bethel Woods allow the memory of Woodstock to be sullied by an influx of “talentless” musicians? For electronic music fans, the selection was rejoiced, not only because the world’s longest running electronic music festival was finally venturing stateside, but more so because of the symbolic locale. For young EDM fans around the world, this meant the opportunity to, in a sort of transcendental way, relive perhaps the most pivotal event in music history. In the festival world, Woodstock is like the Beatles: loyally loved, yet painfully unattainable. So, for those born after the time of Woodstock, the chance to venture to those same grounds for a second-chance of “3 Days of Peace & Music,” was a dream come true.
It had been 35 years since the town of Bethel Woods, N.Y., had allowed another music and camping festival, and understandably so. In 1969, the town had been guaranteed that no more than 50,000 people would attend Woodstock, so when nearly 10 times that number showed up, the proverbial “shit” hit the fan. No, literally, accommodations provided for the expected number of Woodstock attendees meant that, because of the extremely skewed attendance numbers, there were less than three toilets for every 10,000 festival goers. Now, for anyone who wants to complain about the state of the port-o-potties at Mysteryland USA, I would suggest you take a moment to remember the horrifying septic situation at Woodstock, and count your many blessings.
Five days before the gates even opened at Woodstock, young people from far-flung places began to descend on Bethel Woods. The traffic was so unbearable that many abandoned their cars and decided to walk to the farm where the event was to take place. The excitement we felt as we approached Mysteryland USA, and the eagerness we felt as we waited in the stacked line of cars, must have been divinely inspired; I imagine the children of Woodstock to have felt the same way. To access the campgrounds, one has to brave a nasty uphill climb to the gates. Hauling all of our camping gear and festival must-haves was exhausting, but not an ounce of negativity filled the air. People smiled, joked, exchanged gifts of candied jewelry and offered helping hands along the way.
On top of the lack of resources necessary to support such large attendance numbers, Woodstock also happened to fall on a weekend ravaged by torrential downpours. This is something us Mysteryland USA attendees can certainly sympathize with, as the rain started to fall only an hour after the gates opened Friday morning and didn’t stop until Saturday night. Over the course of the first day, the once lush, grass-covered grounds quickly morphed into a hideous mud pit, seriously hindering any pre-conceived outfit plans. Fortunately, festival-goers at both events were so engrossed in their excitement and gratitude that it didn’t matter. Saturday morning, thousands of youths donned their carefully-crafted outfits and ventured out to the mud arena to enjoy the music. A little rain wasn’t going to get us down, just as it never derailed Woodstock.
Mysteryland is famous for its elaborate stage designs, and the crowd was abuzz with rumors of what the Main Stage may look like. When we finally laid eyes on the huge house of cards, a massive red heart framing of its stage, our wildest expectations had been fulfilled. The festival’s theme was loosely based on “Alice In Wonderland,” its theme song a modern day, electronic remix of “White Rabbit,” a Woodstock anthem famously sung in 1969 by Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane. It donned on us that this was yet another way to feel connected to those who roamed these grounds 35 years earlier, with the same mission of peace, love, unity and respect.
No time was wasted before the crowds came alive. Spread thick across six stages, boys and girls clad in bright colors, plastic jewelry and embellished clothing abandoned all inhibitions and allowed the spirit of Mysteryland USA to take hold. Shoulder rides were taken, hoola hoops began to spin, and the movement of the crowd created an impenetrable energy of good vibes. Though the music sounded different and the outfits shined brighter, the spirit of Woodstock was alive and well in the soul and minds of all present.
Music festivals, by nature, are exhausting, so we forced ourselves to occasionally pause our dancing binges and relax. The festival provided several decompression spots where attendees could take a moment to recharge, and the farm’s calming atmosphere made it easy to disconnect from the madness and enjoy the beautiful setting. Moments like these allowed us to reflect on the history of our surroundings and all the magic that had occurred there 35 years prior.
Mysteryland USA’s lineup consisted of a hefty mixture of big room house, trap, and hardstyle. For the most part, genres were divided among stages, each location attracting a niche crowd of EDM diehards. The juxtaposition of the stages made it easy to move between shows, the freedom of which was liberating in comparison to most major festivals. As we wandered from stage to stage, I couldn’t help but notice the amalgam of people, all of different backgrounds, ages and places, mixing and mingling together for the common purpose of experiencing the music. Woodstock must have been the same. In 1969, hippies crossed the country to see the Grateful Dead, and rock n’ roll fans traveled from near and far to hear Jimi Hendrix, but everyone arrived in Bethel Woods for the same reason: to come together in the name of music, which knows no social boundaries and never judges.
Fans of electronic music are used to judgement. We know what it’s like to be misunderstood and not taken seriously, but the strong bonds we share as a musical community keep us immune to perceptions from the outside world. If anything, the feeling of seclusion only makes us a tighter unit, as we find comfort in knowing our passion is shared by countless others. The children of Woodstock were the ostracized, the criticized and the misunderstood. Sound familiar? This article will probably be chastised, accused of forcing a comparison among two starkly different cultures. There is no denying the fact that the music has changed, but instead of picturing it as different, I like to think of it as evolved. My entire life I have dreamed of Woodstock, longing to have been a part of such an important moment in cultural history. I think Mysteryland USA was our chance to relive a moment in time; to honor those whose attitudes and outlooks on life have inspired our own. From 1969 to 2014, a lot has changed, but the inherent, free-spirited connection between the human soul and music remains the same.
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don’t regret it
jooouli