Bread and Roses Festival

I was in heaven knowing that I would have access to all three days of the Bread and Roses: Festival of Acoustic Music held at the iconic Berkeley Greek Theatre on October 7-9 in 1979. Mimi Fariña, sister of Joan Baez had the masterplan to create a music festival with many o0f her friends to raise money to bring music to isolated audiences in Bay Area institutions.

Mimi had another reason for the festivals to be all acoustic as that was the music usually played by the performers who volunteered to bring free, live music into institutional settings for Bread & Roses ongoing program. Volunteers were the backbone of the festival as well. All the musicians donated their talent for the Greek Theatre festivals. Hundreds of volunteers helped with every aspect of the festival from front of house to backstage.

How often does one have a chance to meet and listen to so many amazing musicians over three days. Jesse Colin Young, Pete Seeger, John Herald Band, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Arlo Guthrie, Dan Hicks, The Persuasions, Richie Havens, Buffy Sainte-Marie,Country Joe McDonald, Joan Baez, the amazinng Hoyt Axton, Maria Muldaur, Tom Paxton, Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Graham Nash, The Chamber Brothers, Kris Kristofferson, Chick Corea, Flora Purim and more!