In 1982 and 1983, Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak spent a whole bunch of money to put on an enormous outdoor festival called the US Festival. It attracted several hundred thousand people and was, in the words of Mötley Crüe's Vince Neil, "the day new wave died and rock and roll took over." I saw this picture of the festival when I was a kid, and to this day it remains my reference picture for rock and roll concerts.
The US Festival happened at a time when large scale festivals were unusual in America. Nowadays, music fans have plenty to chose from. But it's rare to see a festival dedicated in a really pure way to rock and roll.
Enter The Sheepdogs. In September, the band is playing a big show in Toronto, and they're bringing along their friends in The Sadies, Yukon Blonde, and Zeus. Okay, it's a far cry from a full day of heavy metal bands playing in a giant field paid for by the Apple guy. But it is a quality evening of outdoors rock and roll, and I for one am glad to see someone carrying the torch!