'Road to Woodstock' author to speak Nov. 7 at Nebraska Union

            The 1969 Woodstock Festival is arguably the greatest American music festival of all time. Michael Lang, the mastermind and creative genius who brought the legendary event to life, will be coming to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to tell his story at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 in the Nebraska Union Auditorium, 14th and R streets.

            Lang, who developed the concept for the Woodstock Festival along with Artie Kornfeld, will provide context for what the era of the 1960s meant and how to benefit today from the spirit of this fabled time in America. Admission is free for UNL students with a valid NCard and is $5 for all others.

            His book "The Road to Woodstock," was a best-seller recounting the creation of Woodstock. His tale includes vast challenges and impossible odds, hippies protesting Vietnam, great music from artists like The Who, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, 400,000 people being groovy, threats from the New York governor and National Guard, and the massive post-festival clean up on Max Yasgur's farm.

            Lang was featured prominently in the 1970 Academy Award-winning documentary, "Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music," and he is portrayed by actor Jonathan Groff in the Ang Lee film, "Taking Woodstock," featuring Demetri Martin and Eugene Levy.

            His UNL appearance is sponsored by the University Program Council, a student organization that provides diverse, educational and entertaining programs and events to enhance the UNL community. For more information visit http://involved.unl.edu/upc or follow UPC Nebraska on Facebook and Twitter. 

Writer: Karen Wills