“If we join them, we can turn those adversities that are the problems of America today into a hope for a brighter and more peaceful future …”
That quote comes from Max Yasgur, owner of the 600-acre dairy farm in New York where Woodstock took place in August 1969. He considered the event “a victory of peace and love.”
On April 14, Osprey Radio and TNE Entertainment bring Woodstock to UNF with the same hope for harmony. Osprey Radio manager and event coordinator Nadine Robertson finalizes the lineup this week.
“I wanted a diverse group of acts,” she said. “Woodstock was not all hippie stuff. It was something for everybody, it united everybody.”
Robertson said she feels unity is what UNF’s missing.
“Everybody’s in their own little cliques, so this will be a way to unite the whole campus,” she said.
From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., the UNF Amphitheater will be bumping with tunes by more than 16 performers from a variety of genres like rock, jazz, R&B, rap and country. In addition to the music, two teams of DJs and three spoken word poets will perform throughout the day.
Robertson said the highlight of the show for her will be Ricky Calloway’s performance from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Calloway works at facilities planning on campus.
“He’s an older guy and he has that James Brown type of funk thing and he dances,” Robertson said. “He’s quick on his feet like James Brown, and he plays all these instruments … people see him walking around campus and he’s an average guy but when he performs he has, like, an alter ego.”
Calloway said 1969 was a good time to be around, and although he didn’t go to Woodstock, he did see some of it on television.
“I think what Nadine is doing is gonna be really nice and keeping what we call ‘that old school stuff’ alive,” he said.
Calloway’s friends tease him by calling him the ‘King of Funk in Florida,'” he said. Calloway, 57, has been performing since he was 13.
“I’ll try to do a good job,” Calloway said. “It’s a challenge because no one knows my music and it’s gonna be interesting to see how the community of UNF reacts. I hope that they’ll accept me.”
Callaway’s one-hour performance from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. will not be the only event the UNF community may or may not accept. Bill Parker, the Student Union Production Specialist, said the Amphitheater has the capability to pumping out a maximum of 120 decibels.
“But that’s way too loud,” Parker said, “I definitely expect some complaints, anytime we do something there’s someone who doesn’t like it.”
On Wednesday, the Amphitheater will be pumping out 90-94 decibels from local artists like reggae band Bubbly Joe, rapper Max, R&B by Fatso and some folky rock tunes by Orange Standard.
For more information about Osprey Woodstock and the performing artists, check out ospreyradio.com or find the event on Facebook. The Spinnaker will be tweeting live from the event.
Also keep an eye out for the colorful fliers around campus.
