WPKN Music on Film Documentary – Festival Express

In 1970 a train journeyed across Canada carrying some of the greatest rock bands of all time. Janis Joplin, The Band, The Grateful Dead, Ian & Sylvia, Buddy Guy, Delaney & Bonnie, and others lived (and partied) for five days, giving concerts where and when they stopped. The train was called the Festival Express. Nicknamed the million dollar bash by Rolling Stone Magazine Festival Express was designated to capitalize on then-burgeoning craze for multi-day, talent heavy music festivals. Festival Express was planned as a festival with a difference–it would be portable. This proved to be stamp of genius, indelibly stamping the event with an aura of magic, as a large number of the performers signed on despite being offer fees substantially below their going rate. The musicians thought the train ride sounded like the party to end parties.