Young Groups Get Chance At Performing Arts Center

by Marilyn Nason, The Post-Star, September 20, 1969

A showcase opportunity of a lifetime was offered several groups of local talent last night in the magnificent, perfectly-equipped Saratoga Performing Arts Center for the Upstate Contemporary Groups Festival. The several thousand in the audience were appreciative and a perfect catalyst of attentive enthusiasm to give a morale-boosting bit of encouragement to these talented young people.

As part of SPAC’s somewhat daring late autumn First Annual Saratoga Pop Festival weekend, last night was a great hit with the largely young audience and should definitely be repeated another season.

The groups performing last night were selected from more than 30 who auditioned originally for SPAC officials and the choices were generally good.

Opening the program was the Maze from Amsterdam, featuring five boys and a girl in what was described as “acid-rock styling.” They were followed by the Sunday Morning Singers of six girls from Schenectady, who offered some very fine folk singing.

From Johnstown came five performers, Sleepless Night, followed by Soul on Ice from Schenectady and The Essentials from Schaghticoke. Valatie was represented by Soul Rebellion and Latham’s entrant was Patterns.

Closing out the show were Jimmy Lane and the Incredible Five from Schenectady. All in all, the show was most enjoyable, revealing some very exceptional talent in this area and boding well for stardom for some of the groups undoubtedly.

Reportedly, booking agents and theatrical luminaries were in attendance last night at the specific invitation of SPAC officials to hear and see these groups for possible future engagements elsewhere.

The tremendous sense of keyed anticipation and an obvious deep yearning “to be a hit” onstage was especially evident backstage last night because of this, too.

Tonight, Ray Charles, the Ray Charles Orchestra and the Raelettes pay a return visit to SPAC for a performance at 8:30 and the autumn weekend closes out tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. with the Country Music Jamboree of local talent.