Texas International Pop Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Texas International Pop Festival |
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Texas International Pop Festival poster
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| Genre | Rock, pop, etc. |
| Location(s) | Lewisville, Texas United States |
| Years active | 1969 |
| Founded by | Interpop Superfest |
The Texas International Pop Festival was a huge music festival. It happened in Lewisville, Texas, during the Labor Day weekend, from August 30 to September 1, 1969. This awesome event took place just two weeks after the famous Woodstock Festival. The festival grounds were in a big open field. It was near the Dallas International Motor Speedway, right off Interstate Highway 35E.
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About the Festival's History
The idea for this festival came from Angus G. Wynne III. He was a concert promoter, and his dad founded the Six Flags Over Texas theme park. Angus had gone to another big music festival, the Atlanta International Pop Festival, earlier that summer. He decided to create a similar event near Dallas. So, he teamed up with Alex Cooley, who organized the Atlanta festival. Together, they formed a company called Interpop Superfest.
Amazing Bands and Artists
Many famous musicians played at the Texas International Pop Festival. Here are some of the awesome artists who performed:
- Canned Heat
- Chicago (they were called Chicago Transit Authority back then)
- James Cotton
- Delaney and Bonnie and Friends
- Grand Funk Railroad
- The Incredible String Band
- Janis Joplin
- B.B. King
- Freddie King
- Led Zeppelin
- Herbie Mann
- Nazz
- Rotary Connection
- Sam and Dave
- Santana
- John Sebastian
- Shiva's Headband
- Sly and the Family Stone
- Space Opera
- Spirit
- Sweetwater
- Ten Years After
- Tony Joe White
- Johnny Winter
Fun at the Campground
North of the main festival area was a big campground. It was right by Lewisville Lake. Many festival-goers enjoyed swimming and relaxing there. There was also a special "free stage" at the campground. Some bands played extra shows there after their main stage performances. Other bands who weren't on the main stage also got to play. This is where Wavy Gravy, who led a group called the Hog Farm, got his famous name!
Helping Hands at the Festival
The group known as The Merry Pranksters helped manage the free stage and camping area. While their leader, Ken Kesey, wasn't there, his friend Ken Babbs and their colorful bus, Further, were. The Hog Farm group also helped out a lot. They provided security to keep everyone safe. They also had a special "trip tent" for people who needed a quiet place. Plus, they gave out free food!
Festival Attendance and Safety
No one knows the exact number of people who attended the festival. But estimates say between 120,000 and 150,000 people were there! Even with so many people, there were no reports of serious trouble. Sadly, one person passed away from getting too hot. But, a baby was also born there during the festival!
Recordings of the Shows
You can find high-quality recordings of almost the entire festival online. These recordings were made directly from the soundboard, so they sound great. Led Zeppelin's performance is especially popular among fans. It's known for its amazing sound and how well the band played.
Festival Performance Schedule
The music started at 4:00 p.m. each day. The band Grand Funk Railroad (sometimes called "Grand Funk Railway") played every morning. They would play through the hot afternoon until the main shows began at 4:00 p.m. B.B. King also played all three nights. He even told some of the same jokes and stories, perhaps thinking he had a different crowd each time!
Saturday, August 30
- Grand Funk Railroad
- Canned Heat
- Chicago Transit Authority
- James Cotton Blues Band
- Janis Joplin
- B.B. King
- Herbie Mann
- Rotary Connection
- Sam & Dave
Sunday, August 31
- Grand Funk Railroad
- Chicago Transit Authority
- James Cotton Blues Band
- Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
- The Incredible String Band
- B.B. King
- Led Zeppelin (announced as "The Led Zeppelin")
- Herbie Mann
- Sam & Dave
- Santana
Monday, September 1
- Grand Funk Railroad
- Johnny Winter
- Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
- B.B. King
- Nazz
- Sly and the Family Stone
- Spirit
- Sweetwater
- Ten Years After
- Tony Joe White
Remembering the Festival
On January 29, 2010, the Texas Historical Commission approved a special historical marker. This marker would be placed near Hebron Station. This is a train station in Lewisville, close to where the festival stage used to be. A special concert was held on January 31, 2010, to raise money for the marker. They needed $1,500 to pay for it.
The marker was officially placed at the site on October 1, 2011. There was a dedication ceremony at the nearby train station. Today, the area where the main concert stage was is now covered by townhomes. The rest of the festival grounds are now home to a chicken restaurant and apartments.
