The ADA Sunday news previews the "1970 Southwest Peace Festival" scheduled at Lubbock
DICKENS, Tex. (AP) — This town where hard rock is only noise and the tuneful laments of the lonesome cowboy are music is shoring up its defenses against an invasion of maybe: 30,000 youngsters strange to West Texas eyes. Unauthenticated reports circulate of plans for roving armed patrols by the citizens, a sellout of weapons and barricaded homes. "I don't think that's true," said County Judge Martin Pope. . "I must confess that everyone is quite worried but it hasn't', reached that point yet." I Still, said the judge, "We don't want this thing here." The thing is a rock festival. Dickens has a population of 400. Promoters of what they call "Southwest 70 Peace Festival" say they expect 25.000 to 30,000 to pour into the place this coming weekend. Nearest city is Lubbock. 62 miles to the west. Guthrie, pop. 190. is 31 miles east. The population of this cattle and farming region envisions an invasion of long-haired, pot-smoking hippies and scenes of confusion, death and freakouts such as occurred at other mammonth rock festivals at Woodstock, N.Y., and Lewisville, Tex. combined with all sorts of health problems. As at Woodstock and Lewisville, traffic can't be anything, but chaotic. The 32-acre site is four miles up a narrow farm-to-market road leading off U.S. 82. Already, say state police, rock music fans are moving in and setting up camp.
Some of the best bands will be here like the Canned Heat, the Byrds, The Zephyr, the Joe Kelly Blues Band, Muddy Waters, the Bangor Flying Circus. Johnny Winter. Sweetwater, Blood Rock and the Beasts. "The people here still resent this thing very, very much. There is a great deal of concern over it." said Judge Pope. The judge said citizens groups have met to see if they can stop it. "It appears our hands are tied so far as legislation against such a gathering is concerned," he said. He added. "There isn't any panic but we're extremely upset over this thing. We've been tell-ing our people to just stay home and off the streets while this thing is going on."
Promoter of the event, which costs a $13.50 fee for March 26, 27 and 28, is Atlantic Productions of Lubbock. Robert Gamble of Atlantis said the youths want no trouble and hopes they will be left alone "to do our thing." Said Gamble, "We don't want any drug abuse or pot smoking but I know there will probably be some. We are cooperating with the Texas Highway Patrol and plan to have Red Cross authorities on hand." Gamble said there will be 150 portable toilets and two restroom buildings. Although it is called a peace festival, there will be no speeches, said Gamble. "We want peace like everyone else but there are no demonstrations planned," he said.
The sponsors' handbills blanketing the Southwest carry words of warning and of hope: Bring a blanket—cool nights. Bring a jug of water. Watch for road signs. God loves you. Dickens is set to do its own thing at dawn the morning after the last thumps on the rhythm guitar and the lead guitar and the final shout of the boy at the microphone. "We're planning an Easter sunrise service Sunday," said the judge, sounding as if he ex-pects Dickens may need some such solace.
Source & Full Article: 70-03-22 Ada, OK
