"This is not a Woodstock,'' says Danny Socolof, the executive producer of A Day in the Garden. "We're not trying to emulate that or copy it, because it shouldn't be copied. What happened happened once. It was a result of some extraordinary times musically, politically and socially. And it's not meant to happen again.''

OK, so for the sake of argument, let's assume that A Day in the Garden is not a Woodstock, even though it will take place on the original site of the original Woodstock Music and Art Fair on the 29th anniversary of the 1969 festival that rocked the world.

The party line that Socolof has been hammering home since the event was first announced back in June is that it's simply "a rededication of an historic site.''

But the truth of the matter may be something different. It may very well turn out to be that A Day in the Garden is really a dress rehearsal, maybe the biggest dress rehearsal in rock history.

This weekend is just a trial run.

First, throw a temporary stage -- albeit a huge temporary stage -- on the site and invite a bunch of bands to play. Make sure there are some Woodstock alumni in the spotlight to underscore the continuity and history of the event. Round out the schedule with some baby-boomer faves. No rap acts, please. Too much potential for trouble.

Second, maintain control over the crowd by limiting ticket sales to 30,000. You need people there, so that you can test the facilities and the security. So, if ticket sales dry up, launch a two-for-one sale. But of course, you don't want too many people there. Too much potential for trouble.

Then see what happens. What works? What needs improvement?

Provided there are no disasters this weekend and that things run relatively smoothly -- does anybody really think that kids are going to riot and crash the gate to see Stevie Nicks? -- the Gerry Foundation, which owns the land, should have no trouble getting all of the proper permits from the town and the county to host a mammoth milestone 30th-anniversary, pre-millennial celebration next year.

Sullivan County native and cable television magnate Alan Gerry of the Gerry Foundation has already declared that this weekend's festivities are "the first step in a long-range program to developing the site as a cultural, music and performing arts and entertainment complex which will attract visitors from around the world.''

This weekend, the seeds for A Day in the Garden will be planted at Max Yasgur's farm. The real question is, "What will blossom there next year?''

Greg Haymes is the pop music writer for the Times Union.

The Albany Times Union
Copyright 1998,
Capital Newspapers Division, of The Hearst Corporation, Albany, N.Y.
all rights reserved.