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| The Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville held outdoor concerts at a newly constructed venue until 1980. Being centrally-located, it afforded those folks who were left out of the east/west coast events to see and hear great artists. The St Louis Symphony Orchestra was one of the featured performers (they played several times a year). Two 1969 concerts stand out. On July 14, The Band played to a full house. For their encore, they had their former boss, Mr Dylan, appear to sing four songs. Earlier that year, on July 7, Arlo & Joni shared the stage and the results were broadcast on PBS in August. The venue showcased many rockers thru 1980, including Emerson, Lake & Palmer (72), The Beach Boys (72, 77, 79, 80), Jackson Browne (72, 73, 77), Manassas (73), Chicago (73, 74, 78), Crosby & Nash (73, 76), Joni Mitchell w/Tom Scott & The L A Express (74), Poco (74, 75, 79), Arlo Guthrie & Pete Seeger (75), Jefferson Starship (75), Flying Egos (74, 75, 78, 77). Note: In the listings below, only "our" artists are listed. Full details are at the SIU website link. |
| Jun 23 | Buffy Sainte-Marie |
| Jun 26 | Butterfield Blues Band |
| Jul 1 | Aorta; Janis Joplin |
| Jul 7 | Arlo Guthrie; Joni Mitchell |
| Jul 10 | Blues Image; Iron Butterfly |
| Jul 14 | The Band (suprise encore w/Bobby) |
| Jul 17 | Ian & Sylvia |
| Jul 22 | Richie Havens |
| Jul 23 | Joan Baez |
| Jul 8 | Grateful Dead |
| Jul 15 | Chicago |
| Jul 29 | Albert King; Delaney & Bonnie (w/Duane Allman) |
| Jul 20 | The Young Disciples; The Spinners; Smokey Robinson & The Miracles |
| Aug 3 | Flying Burrito Brothers; Guess Who |
| Aug 5 | Judy Collins |
| Aug 11 | The Band |
| Aug 15 | Grand Funk Railroad |
| Jul 15 | Judy Collins |
| Jul 20 | Long John Baldry; Buddy Miles |
| Jul 26 | Mylon LeFevre & Holy Smoke; Mountain |
| Jul 27 | John Hartford; Earl Scruggs Revue |
| Jul 29 | Rock & Roll Revival, with Chuck Berry, Gary US Bonds, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Bo Diddley |
| Jul 30 | Kings Of Rhythm; Ike & Tina Turner Revue |
| Aug 4 | Matthews Southern Comfort; Rod Stewart & Faces |
| Aug 10 | Albert King; Roberta Flack |
| Aug 13 | Carlos Montoya; Buffy Sainte-Marie |
| Aug 16 | Wishbone Ash; The Who |
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 .jpg)  =WNET, New York |
Sounds Of Summer: "The Mississippi River Festival" 8/3/69, NET Joni & Arlo at festival hosted by Southern Illinois University, filmed July 7. |
Links!
SIU Website on MRFFestivals Home page