SF Outside Lands: The Humans are Still Being In
Radiohead's set on Friday, August 22nd, marked a San Francisco first – officially sanctioned live music after dark in Golden Gate Park. Three generations of artists were represented on the roster for the weekend – Steve Winwood, Toots and the Maytals, Tom Petty, Wilco, Widespread Panic, Ben Harper, and Jack Johnson were just a few of sixty-four musical acts. Local and regional restaurateurs served foods ranging from vegan wraps to gourmet sausage, and craftspeople sold their artwork.
Producers asked that sponsors such as Microsoft, Dell, and PG&E participate in ways that accorded with the spirit of the event. The results: an EcoLand where solar panels powered the stage, the vending booths, and a cell-phone charging station; a large circus tent with computers available for audience members to upload their own photos, blog posts, and tweets; and a station for creating and emailing a mix "tape" of mp3s from artists performing this summer at festivals throughout the country.
As I took in the 80 acres of offerings, I couldn't help thinking about an earlier gathering. I was not on the planet to attend the Human Be-In held in the park on January 14th, 1967, but its legend was one of the things that brought me to California. Organizers said that the purpose of that event was to harmonize then-competing elements of the youth movement – people focused on political change and those focused on transforming consciousness. The media coverage brought the world its first eyeful of what came to be called the counterculture. The Outside Lands crowd demonstrated how much some the ideals of those times, like environmental awareness and the revival of craftsmanship, have been accepted by the mainstream.
Labels: community, environment
posted by Barbara Ruth Saunders @ 2:33 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Great post Barbara! I really enjoyed all that Outside Lands had to offer this past weekend as well. I spent most of my time at the main stage, but took a few moments each day to explore. Every time I ventured out, I found more reasons why I love living in San Francisco. We truly do have a GREAT community.
I actually WAS at the Human Be-In, though something of a straggler, and you know, who'da thunk it? It's really good to see such positive, inspiring gatherings continue and evolve for the new generations.
I'm delighted to learn that Rex will be at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park this fall, too!
In the who'da thunk it category - When I was in college in the 1980s, my friends and I were into recycling, working on our solar panels, dabbling in vegetarianism, raising chickens (for the eggs) and learning about organic farming. We fancied ourselves to be living like the people of the glorious '60s. Strange that we were living like people in the 00s, sans the cell phones, of course.
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