Folk-Rock Festival Conducted at SPAC

by Marilyn Nason, The Post-Star, June 26, 1968

Once you got used to the initial impact of the noise, last night’s Folk-Rock Festival at Saratoga Performing Arts Cen-
ter has to emerge as a tremendous evening of entertainment for all ages.

The first of a series of six pre-season specials, the festival was a far cry from last year’s dismal attempt at a similar effort.

The American Breed opened the program and, unfortunately, must be listed as just four nice young men who sing too loud, have little enunciation and scant chance of rising above the dozens like them.

The second group brought the return of Spanky and Our Gang and it was fabulous, as three encores will attest. This group is atrocious to look at but can they sing, and what harmony, too. They did some excellent numbers, including their current hits, “I’d Like to Get to Know You” and “Sunday Will Never Be the Same.” They even repeated their successful rendition of last year, “Trouble In River City” from “The Music Man” and it was great.

In the midst of their performance, the audience of nearly 5,000-many of whom braved the rainy, damp weather to sit on the lawn – heard what has to be considered as fine a banjo solo by Lefty Baker of the group as one could want.

Billed as the top attraction of the Festival, The Fifth Dimension closed out the evening.

Although billed as the “stars” of the evening, they came through as another extremely noisy, frantic group — two girls and three men singing, backed by four musicians. One of the singers looked exactly like Burl Ives in a red space suit costume.

It is a source of great wonder to imagine ever listening to their loud performance in a closed theatre; it was noisy enough outdoors.

Tonight, Ray Charles and the Raelettes will appear at 8:30.