The Atlanta International Pop Festival
July 4th & 5th, 1969
Atlanta International Raceway
Hampton, Georgia

The Atlanta International Pop Festival Poster

In 1969, Cooley brought a new brand of entertainment to his home. The rock festival had come South and it was a massive event. The first festival of its kind in the deep South; over 100,000 people braved the searing Georgia heat to see legendary performers.

The festival brought a new awareness of imminent change at the peak of the Civil Rights movement." You have to understand the context" explains Cooley. "It was the height of the Vietnam war and Lester Maddox was Governor. I wanted to do something that would make people where I lived understand that we could change." Cooley remembers that after the festival a subculture with alternative values began to flourish.The festival by his terms had been a success.

Of course, the financial gain of $12,000 came as a slight embarassment and prompted Alex to bring in The Grateful Dead for a free performance at Piedmont Park.

 
 
Poster variation
Atlanta International Pop Festival handbill

Other Festivals
& Outdoor Shows

Music Midtown Festival
Champagne Jam
Atlanta International Pop Festival
2nd Atlanta Pop Festival
Texas International Pop Festival
Mar Y Sol Puerto Rico Intl. Pop Festival
More Festivals >>
THE MUSIC

Chuck Berry
Al Kooper
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Canned Heat
Chicago Transit Authority
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Dave Brubeck
Delaney, Bonnie & Friends
Grand Funk
Janis Joplin
Johnny Winter
Led Zeppelin
Pacific Gas & Electric
Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Johnny Rivers
Spirit
Sweetwater
Ten Wheel Drive

 

July 7, 1969
 
Atlanta Intl. Pop Fest Websites
Several websites have popped up recently about classic concerts and festivals.The following links concern the Atlanta International Pop Festival in 1969. These links are external and alexcooley.com is not responsible for their content or opinions:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Atlanta_International_Pop_Festival_(1969)


http://www.uwgb.edu/urs/
Ray_Hutchison_web_pages/second
international_atlanta_pop.htm
 
July 7, 1969
 
 
© Alex Cooley or respective copyright
holder as noted. All rights reserved.