Talking to James Cotton

The next person I’d like to interview for the documentary is James Cotton (left). I’ve left messages for his management, but as of today I haven’t heard back. Maybe I’ll have to become that squeaky wheel because he’s an important piece of the festival. Actually James Cotton was a popular headliner at many of the Northwest rock…

Documentaries are the Efforts of Many

The longer I work on this documentary, Buffalo Rock, the more astounded I am by people who step forward to help. Just last week, Todd Miller loaned me this book (which by the way is great), another person has reached out to help find musicians, and another gentleman told me to start the Kickstart campaign…

A lot to learn

I just finished up a weekend with the Seattle Documentary Association, which just had their DocForest event in Eatonville. It was fate I should attend, as it was held on the very land that the rock festival was held on at Pack Forest. What did I learn? Well, that I have a LOT to learn…

Parachuting into the Buffalo Convention

I keep being surprised by what turns up while researching. This week it’s been information about the parachuting. I’d heard about the parachuters dropping in during the rock festival, but had just assumed they were promotional. I was completely wrong. Jamie Zartman, one of the skydivers, talked to me about diving into the place. He…

Come Find us at the Eatonville Art Festival, August 5-7

We’re gearing up for the Eatonville Art Festival this weekend, August 5-7, 2016. We’ll have a booth to gather story leads, sell t-shirts, hats and posters, and pretty much just spread the word. The Eatonville Art Festival launched not long after the Buffalo Party, in 1972. Although Art festivals are common today, that wasn’t the case 40…

A look into the 1960s

Interviewing folks involved in the 1970 Eatonville Rock Festival (Buffalo Party Convention and Pig Roast) is turning out to be an adventure in time travel. People walk you through a world without computers, where hiking to an event was safe (and legal) and psychedelic drugs are the thing. The Pierce County Superior Court issued an…

Interview with Rick Course

Just finished interviewing Rick Course, who still has that wonderful hippy spirit. He grew up in Washington and was a big fan of rock festivals. He and about 25 friends drove to the Buffalo Party Convention and were told by police (who were backed up by townspeople) that the festival was not going to happen.…

Interview with Kristine Johnson

I interviewed Kristine Johnson for the Buffalo Rock documentary yesterday. Kristine came out to the Buffalo Party Convention with a high school girlfriend in 1970, and for all intents and purposes stayed. She worked at Emerald Downs for a couple years, saving money to buy land out in Eatonville, and ended up buying five acres…

Dispatch Promotes the Documentary

The word is getting out there about Buffalo Rock. The Eatonville Dispatch ran an article this week about it on the cover. We also confirmed that there will be a booth at the Eatonville Art Festival on August 6 and 7, where people can stop by and share their memories . . . or any tall…

Interview with Tore Ofteness

Just scheduled an interview with Tore Ofteness. I’m excited because he came to the Buffalo Party Convention with camera in hand. This wasn’t his only rock festival. He pretty much documented most of the rock festivals taking place around the area and has a number of his incredible black and white shots (among other photography) on his…