Kraft Stadium to host Jerusalem Woodstock anniversary tribute

If you missed Woodstock the first time round, way back in 1969, no worries. Almost exactly 40 years later, this August 5, you can recreate the event in Jerusalem. On Tu B’Av, “the Jewish day of love,” Jerusalem is set to rock in the spirit of peace, love and Woodstock with a five-hour music marathon just near the entrance to the city, so the out-of-towners won’t have to venture too far into the capital and there’s plenty of parking nearby for everyone. GoJerusalem.com’s culture and tourism channel ranks among the event’s media sponsors.

For the first time ever, Kraft Stadium – Israel’s de facto headquarters for baseball, football and other American athletic events – will double as a concert venue, with proceeds from ticket sales going towards the American Football in Israel (AFI) parent organzation.

 

The Woodstock revival in the Holy City will feature top home-grown cover bands performing the legendary songs of Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, The Doors and Crosby, Stills and Nash. The lineup includes renowned Israeli artist, Geva Alon (pictured), paying tribute
to Neil Young; celebrated blues guitarist, Ronnie Peterson, playing Bob
Dylan; singer-guitarist Lazer Lloyd from the rock band Yood with some
of Jimi Hendrix’s classics; and the nationally acclaimed Crosby,
Stills and Nash tribute band Long Time Gone.

Carmi Wurtman, 38, the event’s producer and promoter, asserts that the 40th anniversary of Woodstock is a great reason to party. if the original Woodstock was all about sex, drugs and rock and roll, the Jerusalem version will be happy to provide two out of three – really great, vintage rock, and the opportunity for singles to get to know one another in a charged-up atmosphere.

 

Wurtman was instrumental in bringing Macy Gray to Jerusalem earlier this summer for a Student Day-themed show, and he also organized 2007’s Jerusalem Rocks event, which featured the Black Eyed Peas. A true philanthropist, Carmi’s also a co-founder of Festival BeShekel. In addition to its flagship events – concerts featuring major local
talent for only one shekel (about 25 cents) per ticket, held in
low-income areas – the Festival BeShekel organization is also an
ongoing project to teach kids dance, music and street theater as well
as music industry-oriented PR and production skills. “I have a fun life – I love what I do,” he told GoJerusalem.com. 

 

Wurtman says he’s “all about sports and music,” and although he devotes most of time to organizing concerts these days, he was an avid softball player and loyal member of a small Israeli league. “I remember how we struggled for funding, when I was a kid,” he reminisces. Hence the decision to arrange for the AFI benefit.

The non-profit AFI recently saw its national women’s team take first place at the Big Bowl tournament in Germany, and Israel will be sending both its women’s and men’s national teams to Belfast in September for the European Championships.

For more information and tickets, check out www.woodstockrevival.com.