The 1960s was a decade of struggle: it included the Vietnam war; the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy; and the consequent riots and protests which resulted in feelings of animosity. Just when hope seemed to be lost, rumors of a giant “rock festival” began to surface. This concert was to take place in upstate New York, encompassing three days of peace and music from some of the biggest names in counter culture. The year was 1969 – welcome to Woodstock!

 

In attendance at this legendary concert was University of Wisconsin-Stout alumni, Joe Nolan, an ecstatic teenager who was hoping to see every band he cared about. While he did not bring his video camera with him to the original concert, the recurring feelings from attending Woodstock reunions spurred his urge to share the “spirit” of the event. Thus the documentary “The More Things Change” was born.

 

For the 41st celebration of the concert, Nolan brought his video camera and filmed how the event is still being observed. The documentary uses interviews conducted with Woodstock veterans, as well as those new to the “Woodstock spirit,” to tell the unlikely series of events that led to the history making concert and Nolan’s experiences as an attendee. It tells the story of Woodstock by putting it into context with its times and also with those of the last half century. It also mixes personal milestones with significant social, political, technological and medical developments that have occurred during this very important period. More importantly, it shows that even 40 years later Woodstock is still drawing people to the original site in Bethel, N.Y. The best way to describe this documentary is that it provides a window into what life was like in the 1960’s, and how everything was continuously changing.

 

“The concert marks the end of the era that began with John F. Kennedy’s youthful optimism and the beginning of one that grows increasingly cynical,” said Nolan on the documentary’s website. “You’ll see that in spite of all the advances in technology, people are still seeking the same inner peace and brotherhood that the original concert inspired… The many interesting and colorful people that journey back each year help explain the Woodstock spirit as it exists now –  and hopefully how it will be carried on in the future.”

 

So what was Nolan’s most memorable moment at Woodstock? He states on the site “Hendrix played, and I was lucky enough to see him. If I would have missed everything else that weekend, watching that performance would have made the entire trip worthwhile.”

 

To learn more about the documentary, read more of Nolan’s experiences or to view the trailer for the documentary visit the website: http://www.woodstockmemoir.com