Seattle Pop Festival July 25-27, 1969: Peace, Led Zeppelin, and Dogs.

If Wyatt and Jonah were alive at the time, then I am sure they would have been at the scene. From 25 to 27 July 1969, local promoter Boyd Grafmyre staged Seattle Pop at Gold Creek Park in Woodinville, Washington, just a few miles outside of Seattle. It was the second successful major rock festival to occur in Washington within less than a year, after Grafmyre had previously helped organize the historic Sky River Rock Festival in 1968.

Sometimes the most well known dog is not the best dog. While The Doors, The Byrds and The Ike And Tina Turner Revue were among the most highly-anticipated acts of the festival, it was really Led Zeppelin who emerged as the highlight. England’s hottest new act were just on the cusp of fame in America when they played Seattle Pop.

“Coming onstage after the forced extravaganza of The Doors, the Zeppelin faced a jaded and uncomfortable audience that had been standing in the cold all evening. But the electricity of lead singer Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page quickly warmed them up. Few who experienced it will forget Led Zeppelin’s performance, especially their smashing encore of ‘Communication Breakdown’.”

Nearby neighbors complained of traffic and the hippie atmosphere, but Chick Dawsey, owner of Gold Creek, noted that spectators were orderly with very few exceptions.

“I disagree with their movement 100 per cent,” said Dawsey, “but some of us adults better get the hell closer to them. They respond very much to kindness, we older people better learn this — If they need a drink of water we, the establishment, should go out and offer it.”