"Rock Star" road tripper checking in! Self-proclaimed anyway! Road trips and visits to all 50 states are my game. Find your next road trip destinations here. Fill your bucket list with fantastic US journeys. I love road trips and spare no effort in making my travels and experiences inviting for members of the road-tripping family! Pick a trip you want to take, or get inspired to plan your own. - - The Driveby Tourist (or call me Stan!)
The Day Music Changed Forever! 🎸🌊
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A big change for Folk and Rock! If you’re a fan of music history, there’s one destination you have to visit: the Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park, Rhode Island. Founded in 1959 by George Wein, this legendary event isn't just about banjos and acoustic guitars—it’s the site of one of the most controversial moments in rock 'n' roll history! 🎤✨ (See Note below) On July 25, 1965, a young Bob Dylan stepped onto the stage and did the unthinkable: he plugged in. 🔌💥 Backed by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Dylan’s loud, electric set shocked the folk purists in the crowd. According to music lore, the "folkies" were so upset by the departure from traditional acoustic music that they booed him, while others claim the audience was simply frustrated by the poor sound quality. Either way, "Dylan going electric" became a cultural flashpoint that bridged the gap between folk and rock forever. 🎸⚡️ Today, the festival remains a bucket-list event, famous for its surprise "unannounced" guests and its stunning waterfront views. Whether you’re sitting on the lawn or watching from a boat in the harbor, you’re standing on hallowed ground where legends are made. ⚓️🎶 Keep on rocking, Note: Initially, I was just going to give a history of the Folk Festival itself. But I couldn’t resist Dylan “going electric!” That’s an iconic moment. Yes, I did visit this location in 2021! The Driveby Tourist Team ✌️🗺️ "I was booed off the stage. You can't imagine what that's like.” – Bob Dylan Classic Rock song: "Like A Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan (in the electric set at the Folk Festival in 1965) Please ask me more questions about iconic Rock 'n' Roll moments or places! Here is the Premium Subscription page: You will get early access to new blog posts, one extra weekly newsletter, and access to all past newsletters. And occasionally, I'll ask for votes on content! Stan Featured Post: This post about a Route 66 Pilgrimage that brings in Rock n Roll may be a fit. |
Stan Wiebe
"Rock Star" road tripper checking in! Self-proclaimed anyway! Road trips and visits to all 50 states are my game. Find your next road trip destinations here. Fill your bucket list with fantastic US journeys. I love road trips and spare no effort in making my travels and experiences inviting for members of the road-tripping family! Pick a trip you want to take, or get inspired to plan your own. - - The Driveby Tourist (or call me Stan!)
Ever feel like your bedroom dresser is overflowing? Well, you haven't seen anything yet! Welcome to High Point, North Carolina, home to the World’s Largest Chest of Drawers. 🛏️✨ Standing an impressive 36 feet tall, this massive piece of "furniture" was originally built in the 1920s to prove once and for all that High Point is the "Furniture Capital of the World." It was fully restored in 1996 and now features two giant socks hanging out of one of the drawers—a whimsical nod to the local...
Have you ever wanted to stand at the literal center of the world? Well, in Boston, Massachusetts, you can do exactly that! Tucked away inside the Mary Baker Eddy Library is the Mapparium, a three-story, stained-glass globe that is easily one of the most mind-bending sights in New England. 🏛️🌈 Completed in 1935, this incredible work of art and geography is nearly 100 years old! Because the 608 stained-glass panels haven't been touched since their installation, the Mapparium serves as a...
I've met over 300 "Fifty-Staters" in the past week! Today's newsletter is a bit more personal, as I'm reporting on my experiences that ended yesterday (July 1st). Some of the All Fifty Club members, along with Alicia, our president, attended the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. I wasn't even aware that this event had become "political." I'm not going to get into that, as you can read about it yourself. As above, over 300 people who visited our presence...