Harrisburg Rock Festival (May 18, 1974) 

By Emily R. Pettet 

So last year was a bit of a bust in terms of rock music at the Rock Festival, but it couldn’t hurt to give it another shot. Unlike last year, it didn’t seem that there were other anticipated acts, which meant you could expect another day of uninterrupted tunes from familiar bands like American Standard. Other groups like Matrix and Uproar may have caught your eye on the flyer, or maybe Ghostown was more your style. Either way, it was time for a trek back to your favorite, free concert venue.*

The Festival of ‘74 went back to its roots as purely a rock concert without any mention of why the decision to shift away from the Spring Music Arts Festival of last year was made. The reason could have been as uncomplicated as a desire to go back to the simpler days when there were fewer moving parts. Whatever the case, the same effort and enthusiasm was poured into the project by Good People Productions (GPP), along with other volunteers, as always, in order to ensure the event’s success.

Speaking of volunteers, in the edition of the C.C. Reader (the new name for The Capitolist) that was published two days before the concert, GPP was still open to volunteers. At the time they had already received the assistance of about 250 people, which just goes to show how much time and energy goes into producing a festival, and a free one at that! In order to show their appreciation for the hard work these students poured into the festivities, the student newspaper called many out by name and explained their responsibilities. From stage crew to publicity committee and more, readers were able to get a better sense about how much work it took to create a day as memorable as the Harrisburg Rock Festival.

Furthermore, an effort was also made to increase community awareness this year. In previous years, student newspaper articles often referenced the trash left behind after the festivities as an indicator of the amount of people in attendance. This time, however, there was a clean-up committee in place that was headed up by a student named Ken Napierkowski to ensure the grounds were nice and tidy after the festivities concluded that year. Moreover, the XGI fraternity stepped in to handle the concessions and returned a portion of their earnings to the campus’ student fund when all was said and done.

In the end, though, music was at the heart of the Festival, along with the idea that it should continue to remain free and open to anyone willing to drive all the way to the campus (or walk if they were in student housing). The Dimeler Brothers, a band from last year’s folk festival, returned for a performance alongside new bands that were also welcomed on stage. Morning Song, Atom’s All, Gyrus, and more rang out for nine hours until the festival came to a close at eight o’clock in the evening. It may have been a little earlier than the first concert’s midnight curfew, but who can complain when the music’s free?

* A creative interpretation rendered based on facts of the event.