Author: Peter Hodgson

AmpliTube captures Brian May in app form

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August 22, 2019 – IK Multimedia is proud to announce AmpliTube Brian May for Mac/PC, iPhone and iPad. Both feature precise models of the exact live and studio gear used by the legendary guitarist from the iconic band Queen – all recreated in collaboration with Brian May himself.

From Brian’s treble booster to his three-amp live setup and carefully curated effects selection, guitarists can enjoy new amp, cab and stompbox models in a convenient package, along with presets covering his celebrated discography. Each model was created with the supervision of Brian May and his long-time technical team, to carefully replicate his rig.

A key element of Brian’s distinct sound comes from his Red Special guitar that, famously, he hand built with his father in the 1960s from spare parts and household materials. Because the guitar is such an integral part of his rig, IK’s engineers went the extra mile to even create a new stompbox effect that helps simulate the Red Special’s tone and controls. This offers guitarists a more authentic musical experience that pays homage to this living legend.

Inside AmpliTube Brian May
Available in convenient desktop app and plug-in for any DAW, AmpliTube Brian May offers up to 11 new models including 2 amps, 3 cabinets, and up to 6 stompbox effects.

Included are unique offerings such as a new pedal modelling Brian’s Red Special guitar and a model of the one-of-a-kind, home-built “Deacy” Amp (with user adjustable battery power!) originally created by Queen bassist John Deacon, after modifying an old radio. Other highlights incorporate his famous triple-amp live setup; tone-shaping effects; and even a harmonizer for nailing those Queen stacked leads in a single take.

Amplifiers
Based on the classic triple VOX® AC30™ setup, the BM 30 offers three amps with the effects chain in a Wet-Dry-Wet configuration to match Brian May’s iconic setup. The BM DK is a model of the small “Deacy” amp that became the trademark sound of many Queen songs.


Cabinets
The 2×12 BM 30 Blue (named the 2×12 BM1 in the Brian May collection for iOS) is a triple cabinet based on the cab section of a VOX AC30 equipped with with Celestion™ Alnico Blue speakers. The 2×12 BM 30 H70 (2×12 BM2 in the Brian May collection for iOS) is with Celestion G12H Anniversary speakers. In addition, the 1×6 BM DK provides the cabinet section of the BM DK amp, featuring a 6″ speaker.

Stompboxes
The Red Special, created from a detailed study of Brian May’s famous guitar, helps add the unique tonality and controls of the Red Special itself. Based on the original KAT® Treble Booster, the Treble Booster enriches guitar tone similar to Brian May’s by boosting it before it reaches the amp.

May Wah was based on a rackmount Dunlop® Cry Baby® wah, modelled in the exact configurations Brian May uses to shape his tone, while the FOX Phaser was based on the unique and distinctive sound of the fOXX® Foot Phaser.

Star Gate is a noise gate that helps clean up the signal chain, minimizing the noise feeding Brian’s unique amp and pedal setup.

The iPhone and iPad version, the Brian May Collection (which is inside the existing AmpliTube app) also adds the 30 – a 30-band Graphic EQ, with +/- 15 dB boost per band and a+/- 15dB Level control, to help craft a more exact match of Brian’s tones. This pedal is already included for free in AmpliTube Custom Shop for Mac/PC.

Discography presets
A full set of painstakingly created song-based discography presets were compiled by Jamie Humphries, guitarist for the official Queen stage production “We Will Rock You”, who has also performed with Queen and Brian May. These presets allow users to dial up their favourite Brian May tones instantly and were constructed under Brian’s personal supervision.

Groundbreaking Modelling Technology
IK’s latest Dynamic Interaction Modeling™ was used to deliver the highest level of ultra-realistic sound when modelling Brian May’s gear. The product of 20 years’ experience modelling analogue gear, DIM™ models the behaviour of every component in the circuit all the way down to its smallest nuance and character. Applied to May’s rig, it delivers the same sound and feel as his real gear.

About AmpliTube guitar and bass tone studio
AmpliTube is the world’s most powerful guitar and bass tone studio for Mac/PC/iPhone/iPad. Available in both free and paid versions, it recreates the entire guitar/bass signal chain from instrument to recording device in a hyper-realistic and intuitive way. Users can also browse and purchase collections of gear models from the world’s top gear manufacturers plus signature artist gear. AmpliTube is available for both Mac/PC, as a stand-alone and plug-in for most popular recording software, and app for iPhone and iPad.

Easy connection to AmpliTube
AmpliTube connects seamlessly with AXE I/O, IK’s premium audio interface with powerful guitar shaping tools. AmpliTube is also compatible with IK’s iRig Stomp I/O, iRig Micro Amp, iRig HD 2, iRig Pro I/O and iRig Pro Duo portable audio interfaces for fast connectivity and on-the-go convenience.

Options, pricing and availability

AmpliTube Brian May (for Mac/PC) runs inside AmpliTube Custom Shop, a free download available to all. The new models are available now for purchase as a bundle from the Custom Shop, the IK Multimedia online store and from IK authorized dealers worldwide for $/€99.99 (excl. taxes).

No previous purchase of AmpliTube is required. The new models will show up as an optional purchase for existing users of AmpliTube 4 upon updating to the latest version.

The Brian May Collection (iPhone and iPad) is available via in-app purchase from within AmpliTube CS for iPhone or iPad, for $19.99. Individual models may also be purchased a la carte (Stomp FX – $3.99 each; amps – $6.99 each). All models are also part of IK’s All-In Bundle 2019 collection, which is available for in-app purchase.

For more information about AmpliTube Brian May and the Brian May Collection, please visit:

To see AmpliTube Brian May in action: www.ikmultimedia.com/brianmay/videonews
For the official Brian May website, visit: brianmay.com

Hey there, Ibanez MSM100.

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Often on Twitter I’ll post little ‘Guitar Crush Of The Day’ pics. I figured I’d do a little blog post about today’s one because what the hell. It’s the Ibanez MSM100 signature model for Marco Sfogli, who I first heard through his incredible work with Dream Theater’s James LaBrie. Marco’s style is a little similar to John Petrucci – not enough to sound like a clone, but enough to serve as a really strong bridge between LaBrie’s identities in Dream Theater and as a solo artist. His Ibanez signature model is based on the AZ series but with plenty of unique twists. It has a DiMarzio Air Norton in the neck position and a Tone Zone in the bridge, a classic combination that gives you big chunky power chords and plenty of overtones and gorgeous mids on single notes. This guitar is rocking a Petrucci-esque wiring scheme where the middle position is coil-split, and it has a distinctive Fabula Green Burst finish that looks even better in person than it does in pics.

More info here.

The Rockpit celebrates 10 years of existence with a rock n’ roll extravaganza!

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The Rockpit celebrates 10 years of existence with a rock n’ roll extravaganza!

Rock, Blues & Metal media publication The Rockpit is celebrating it’s 10 year anniversary in 2019! The rock media company will kick off celebrations with a special 10th birthday show in Perth on Saturday September 14th at the most rock n’ roll venue in Perth at Lucy’s Loveshack followed by Melbourne on Saturday October 12 at The Evelyn Hotel in Fitzroy. Both events will include live music, prize giveaways and a party that will end all rock parties!

The Rockpit has been one of the leading Hard Rock and Metal online media outlets growing each year since its formation in 2009, now with a current global reach of over 300,000 readers per month. Some major changes and additions in recent years has allowed The Rockpit to expand into other areas including the  launch of it’s own online webstore at Rockpit Records, a monthly podcast and it’s artist management & booking arm Krunch Entertainment.

Part of the ethos of the Rockpit has always been to promote the local as much as the global and over the years the team has helped publicise, push and draw the attention of overseas audiences to hundreds of local acts, and that drive to share great local music (wherever it is from) will never cease.  Following in that tradition, the 10th anniversary shows in Perth and Melbourne will feature a stellar lineup of local hard rock bands that have all been featured at The Rockpit over the years. September 14 in Perth will see rock heavy weights Hailmary alongside The Silent Deeds, Amberdown and Jackson Kokeprovide the live entertainment. October 12 in Melbourne is set to be even bigger as the brilliant Palace Of The King lead the way for the night along with Warbirds launching their brand new album plus  Echo Del Tusker as well as special guests The Silent Deeds from Perth and Dellacoma Rio opening the night.

With great music, beer flowing plus a stack of cool prizes to give away to punters, this will be one event not to miss! For more info head to therockpit.net/10years

Krunch Entertainment presents…

The Rockpit 10th Birthday
celebrating 10 years of rock n’ roll

Perth, WA
Saturday September 14th 2019
7pm Doors – $10 entry (on door only)
Lucy’s Loveshack
104 Murray Street, Perth

Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/346331156290162/

Melbourne, VIC
Saturday October 12th 2019
8pm Doors – $12 Oztix or $20 at the door
Evelyn Hotel
351 Brunswick St Fitzroy

Tickets: evelynhotel.oztix.com.au

Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/626696684521369/

Prepaway – Guide to Salesforce ADM-201 Certification Exam

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NOTE FROM PETER: Hey I Heart Guitar readers! Occasionally I’ll run a sponsored post like this on the site. I turn down way more of these than I accept because frankly I’d rather leave money on the table than promote something I don’t believe in. In this case I know a lot of I Heart Guitar readers have an interest in a career in IT. Heck, a lot of great guitar bloggers are IT engineers by trade. So when Prepaway approached me about this sponsored post, I decided to run with it because it’s something that could prove useful to many I Heart Guitar readers. I hope it helps you and opens the door for a career for you (so that you can earn more money to spend on guitars). Enjoy!

Prepaway – Guide to Salesforce ADM-201 Certification Exam

For a new administrator, the Salesforce Administrator certification is the sign of a successful career in the IT field. This credential shows the skill and expertise an individual possesses along with the commitment to it. This certificate allows a person to increase the chances for job employment and salary compensation. It also provides you with a platform of knowledge to explore and learn from. Let us discover why the Salesforce certifications in administration area must-have for you.

Why Should You Get Certified?

The question is, why not to? According to the Salesforce ADM-201 salary survey, about 77% of the certified professionals have the Salesforce Administrator credential. It was also recorded that about 39% were awarded an increase in salary after getting certified. Living in a competitive world, the perks of being certified exceeds the leisure of it. The certificate not only makes you a more professional employee but also improves your career majorly.

When getting certified, you need to know which certification is best for you. It mainly depends on your nature of work and the objectives you have aimed at. Salesforce is reevaluating the credentials for people to adapt to the Salesforce ecosystem according to their choice.

Salesforce Certified Administrator

This is the basic certificate carefully chosen by those individuals who would like to jump into being a professional administrator. You must pass a 105-minute exam with 60 questions to answer, and get a score not less than 65%.

Salesforce Certified Advanced Administrator

This certification, as its name suggests, is a bit more advanced and difficult one. It can only be taken by those who have already obtained the aforementioned certificate. This credential is for a seriously skilled administrator.

Highlights of Salesforce ADM-201 Exam

The ADM-201 certification test comes with 60 multiple-choice questions that should be answered within 105 minutes. The passing score is 65%.The Salesforce website has already put on the percentage of the exam content it will cover. It includesAppExchange – 1%, organization setup – 3%, standard and custom objects – 15%, desktop and mobile administration – 1%, sales and marketing applications – 15%, activity management and collaboration – 3%, service and support applications – 12%, analytics – 10%, security and access – 14%, user setup – 6%, data management – 8%, workflow/process automation – 12%.

The weight if each topic is in accordance with the knowledge and information needed. Designed for the administrator experts, thisSalesforce exam is intended to measure the ability of individuals in their practicality and experience.

Preparation Tools for Salesforce ADM-201 Exam

We have mentioned the difficulty and the types of credentials you can choose from. Now, when you have decided which one to choose, you might consider preparing for it. The best way for preparation is to devise a proper study plan with good study materials and resources you can learn from. This includes online training courses, books, practice questions, and hands-on experience to solidify your concepts. Let us take a look at the most recommended training tools available.

  • Salesforce Training/Tutorials. When searching for the best training resources, the official website is the one to opt for. It provides instructor-led courses, which give you a complete overview. About 35 hours of video tutorials are available on this platform, which you can effortlessly access online.
  • Official Salesforce Course. It is a five-day course that covers up the basic fundamentals of administration. This includes configuring, maintaining, and installingthe Salesforce organization applications. It will also give you an overview of certain features and capabilities of apps along with data management, and etc.
  • Virtual Courses.Apart from the aforementioned training course, you can also opt for virtual courses that last for a brief time but are worth it. For instance, the CRT-101 course lasts a day, but it covers the major elements for you to understand. The benefit of this training is that you will be presented some real-life case scenarios, which you will have to analyze, put in your strategy, and figure out the solution to it. These exercises not only help you further your learning but also improve your problem-solving ability.

Another course known as the Salesforce Proficiency Pack for Administrators is also a must-have resource. It is a 30-day course with 2 hours to invest in everyday, making it an ideal choice for you. Another benefit includes free vouchers for the Salesforce Administration exam, and you can automatically pay for the certification test in your course fee as well.

  • Exam Dumps. Braindumps is another way to get a full-on revision of learning you have done. It will give you a cheat sheet that you can take help from. However, the question is how to choose a trustworthy platform that can provide exam dumps that guarantee your success. PrepAway is the choice you have to make since it offers you a plethora of genuine dumps that will help you pass your certification test.
  • Practice Tests. They are the next thing you ought to do. There are many sites that offer unique bundles and practice questions. These practice questions are sorted out by the IT experts. They also replicate the Salesforce exam environment by putting up difficult and tricky questions. PrepAway is one of the platforms where you can get access to numerous practice questions and sessions that will allow you to measure your abilities and improve further in your preparation.

Final Exam Tips

First and foremost, the only thing you can do is to be positive, that’s all that matters. After preparing for your ADM-201 exam, you should always have a revision schedule and notes that you can review after reading the content. Always remember to complete the exam objectives, which are mentioned in the official study guide. Lastly, make flashcards to help you quickly review all the topics you have previously learned.

Tom Cram (ex-DOD/Digitech) debuts Spiral Electric FX White Spiral Boost

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Spiral Electric FX Debuts White Spiral Boost
A light JFET boost with a few tricks up its sleeve.

Murray, UT, July 29 – Former DOD/Digitech creative, Tom Cram, has added the White Spiral Boost to the ever-growing list of sought-after pedal designs that his company, Spiral Electric FX, will release this year. After its unveiling at this year’s Summer NAMM, the White Spiral Boost will officially be available for purchase in late August.

The White Spiral Boost is a light JFET boost with a few tricks up its sleeve. Meant as either an “Always On” boost that provides increased harmonic content with a little bit of grit, or as a last-in-chain boost to wake up your amp’s dirty channel. Either use will make your notes seem to jump off the strings, and keep your guitar thrummin’. The “Girth” Control was first introduced with Spiral Electric FX’s Yellow Spiral Drive. Unlike a traditional tone control, the “Girth” is a rotary cap network that either restricts bass or increases bass.

The location of the “Girth” Control in the circuit is user-definable by the Alpha/Omega two-way toggle. In the Alpha (A – Left) position the “Girth” control is placed before the low-gain Grit clipping section of the White Spiral. This position allows more, or less, bass to be sent to the “Grit”, and changes the character and compression of the “Grit”. The Omega (Ω – Right) position places the “Girth” Control after the “Grit” Control and this position changes how much bass content is passed through the circuit. This position is more open, glassy, and Hi-Fi sounding. Bassists will LOVE the Omega selection!

The “Grit” Control does double duty, it both changes the performance of the JFET to create distortion, and also brings in Silicon clipping. These two types of clipping together are slightly asymmetrical and the result is a natural-sounding low-gain grit/grind that mates well with already dirty amp channels.

Features:

Low-Gain Boost Harmonic Stimulator
“Girth” Control Tone Cap Network
Alpha/Omega Toggle to change position of “Girth” Control
Hand-Brushed Aluminum Top
Powder-Coated Black Bottom
Matching Warm White LED
Designed and Handmade by Tom Cram
The White Spiral Boost will be available at Spiralelectricfx.com in late August 2019.
Retail price of $199.00
The White Spiral Boost will be available in late August for purchase directly from Spiral Electric FX at http://spiralelectricfx.com

Hey! The new John 5 album is out now!

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I wouldn’t consider John 5 to be underrated: it’s well-known how absolutely incredible he is, and we’re well past the point where people went “Whoa, did you know the guy from Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie’s band can totally shred?” Having said that, every time he releases new music I’m blown away all over again by his blend of songwriting, technique, tone and just all-round fun-factor. His new album Invasion is out today and you should get it. Alright?

JOHN 5 AND THE CREATURES Release New Album, “Invasion”, Today + New Music Video for “I Want It All”
The highly-anticipated new JOHN 5 and The Creatures album, Invasion, has been unleashed to the masses today! Invasion – produced and mixed by Barry Pointer at Riot House Studio – proves to be a diverse progression of the sound that JOHN 5 fans have grown to expect from the eclectic virtuoso.
 
In addition, JOHN 5 and The Creatures are scheduled to announce a new tour very soon, so stay tuned for more details!
 
Invasion, featuring the extraordinary new singles “Zoinks!”, “Crank It – Living With Ghosts”, “I Am John 5” and “Midnight Mass”, is available to order now in both physical and digital formats here: https://smarturl.it/invasionalbumj5
 
Today, in celebration of the release of Invasion, JOHN 5 and The Creatures have released yet another new single and music video, entitled “I Want It All”. Brought to life by the same team on “Crank It – Living With Ghosts” – director Israel Perez, art director Cody Varona and producer Nicole Hatley, with wardrobe by Forgotten Saints LA – the “I Want It All” video is a zany romp featuring some bodacious babes quite literally sustaining life via their Instagram feeds.
 
Watch the “I Want It All” video here: https://smarturl.it/invasionalbumj5
 
JOHN 5 says, “I’m super excited for this record to finally come out, for fans to see the new video, ‘I Want It All’, and to announce a new tour to follow in the fall very soon! I want to thank all of our fans for all of their support!”
Check out even more recent music videos/tracks by JOHN 5 and The Creatures here:
“Crank It – Living With Ghosts”: http://smarturl.it/crankitj5
“I Am John 5”: http://smarturl.it/iamjohn5
For more information about each video, visit www.john-5.com.
Invasion track listing:
   1. Invasion
   2. I Am John 5
   3. Midnight Mass
   4. Zoinks!
   5. Howdy
   6. Crank It / Living With Ghosts
   7. Cactus Flower
   8. I Want It All
   9. I Like The Funk
10. Constant Sorrow
 
About JOHN 5:
JOHN 5 has worked with a varied range of artists, performing as guitarist for some of the biggest headlining rock bands in the world such as Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson, as well as playing session with Paul Stanley, Rod Stewart, Lynyrd Skynyrd and more. Slashhas called JOHN 5, “one of the most mind-blowing guitarists around” and Rob Zombie has dubbed him “a fucking shredder”. JOHN 5 has released seven solo albums to date, as well as a remix album, and has written music for the likes of Avril Lavigne, Garbage, Ricky Martin and others.
JOHN 5 and The Creatures is:
JOHN 5 – guitars
Ian Ross – bass
Logan Miles Nix – drums
JOHN 5 online:

Own a piece of Woodstock history

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Okay, I’d never even thought of where the wooden stage from the Woodstock festival ended up. But it turns out the wood was repurposed then rescued and now you can own a chunk of it to wear around your neck or hang on the wall or, I dunno, smoke?

Here’s the press release.

The Spirit of Woodstock Awakens

Company participates in Museum show, event at the original site at Max Yasgur’s Farm and pledges support of multiple charities

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK (July 30, 2019) – Next month marks the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock, originally billed as “An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music,” which was held at Max Yasgur’s 600-acre dairy farm near White Lake in Bethel, New York. Steve Gold, co-founder of Peace of Stage, LLC, was at the 1969 festival, and years later obtained the original wooden stage from the event. The company is now celebrating the legacy of the festival by creating collectible artifacts from that very stage.

“We decided to create various items of that legendary festival by offering small pieces of (literally) the centerpiece of the event, the Woodstock stage – the same floorboards on which Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and other rock greats made magic – as collectibles they can treasure,” says Gold. “People have an intense emotional attachment to the festival, whether they were there or not. With the Woodstock 50th concert still up in the air, the original stage is the only artifact that exists for people to touch and reflect upon. Its importance is beyond measure – it’s like the Holy Grail of rock music. To be able to give them a chance to own sections of the original stage is something I had to see through.”

Gold, who grew up near the concert site in Bethel, NY (and who attended all three days of Woodstock when he was just 15 years old), recalls how the stage was the focal point for the nearly half million people in attendance. “I had a friend whose father worked electricity for the festival, so I had unrestricted access to what we might call the backstage area,” he says. “I’ll never forget all of those people looking at the stage, half a million people directing their energy to one place. There were no cell phones; nobody was taking pictures to post on Instagram. You had a million eyeballs witnessing the greatest music that was ever played in real time. And it was all happening on these pieces of plywood.”

Weeks after the concert, Gold helped his girlfriend’s father unload pieces of plywood from a truck that were to be used to build a paddleboard court. “I was told it was the wood from the original Woodstock stage, and I couldn’t believe it,” he says. “I was literally holding sections of where Jimi Hendrix stood.”

Forty-eight years after Woodstock, Gold couldn’t shake the memory, and he traveled back to the Robi Lane bungalow colony in upstate New York (about 15 miles from the original concert site at Yasgur’s Farm), where that same paddleboard court still existed. Much of the wood from the Woodstock stage also remained, and Gold, realizing its significance, persuaded the owners of the bungalow colony to let him take possession of it. “I got 3,000 square feet,” he says. “There was still painting on the wood in certain places, and I knew they were markings. I looked at concert pictures and said, ‘That’s where Richie Havens was playing.’”

To honor the Golden Anniversary of Woodstock, Gold, along with Randy Garcia and David Marks, founded Peace of Stage to offer music fans the opportunity to purchase pieces of the genuine authenticated flooring in various collectibles, such as Peace Pendants, Stage Frames (with a four-square-inch piece of the stage) and Stage Cubes (which feature nine-square-inch pieces of the stage).

As Matt Marks, the Director of Digital Marketing for Peace of Stage, explains, the minute people open these collectibles the effect is profound: “Something they’ve only seen in pictures is suddenly right in their hands. It’s something they can hold and touch. The connection is immediate. We’ve even heard from people who say they’ve put their ear to the pieces of wood, and they can feel the vibrations of the music.”

Adds Gold, “We get emails from people who have bought these pieces as remembrances of loved ones. The stories we hear are so touching and gratifying.”

Peace of Stage, LLC co-founder Steve Gold with a piece of the original Woodstock stage

Peace of Stage has also loaned six full panels of the Woodstock stage to the Bethel Woods Museum for their 50th Anniversary exhibit called We Are Golden: Reflections on the 50th Anniversary of the Woodstock Festival and Aspirations for a Peaceful Future. In addition, the company has launched the Stardust for Peace campaign and is selling small collectible glass bottles of sawdust (aka “stardust”) created from the stage flooring to benefit five different charities: Orange Ribbons for Jaime, Feed the Children, WhyHunger, the Jed Foundation (JED) and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

“We felt that each of these charities reflects the spirit of Woodstock, and it was important to bridge the generations through these contributions” says Gold. “Orange Ribbons for Jaime is named after Jaime Guttenberg, one of the victims of the Parkland High School mass shooting, and it promotes common sense gun reforms. Feed the Children is exactly what it says it is, and it’s as vital now as it ever was. WhyHunger feeds people, too, but it also supplies housing for veterans. The Jed Foundation is dedicated to anti-bullying and educates kids about suicide prevention, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund honors our troops who sacrificed their lives at that time. As you recall, Woodstock was very much rooted in the anti-war protest movement.”

Gold also says that Peace of Stage is planning to participate in the Yasgur Road Reunion event that will take place August 15-18 at the original Yasgur homestead and calving barn in Bethel, NY to commemorate Woodstock’s 50th anniversary. “We’re going to have a vendor booth, and we’ll be hosting it on social media,” he says. “People can have their pictures taken next to the actual Woodstock stage, and they can hashtag it to #woodstockstage to show that they were there.”

For more information, please visit: https://www.peaceofstage.com/