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Woodstock Spirit Inhabits Toys For Tots Fundraiser

2018 Silver Ball Group Shot. The 2019 Silver Ball is Saturday night at The Castle Theatre in Bloomington.
Morgan Schulte
2018 Silver Ball Group Shot. The 2019 Silver Ball is Saturday night at The Castle Theatre in Bloomington.

Michael Klug of Jack Dupp & the Empty Bottles says the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock music festival is a reminder that we're all connected in one form or another.

“Woodstock,” he said before pausing a beat to collect his thoughts to explain how 500,000 people can survive four days in a field when food and other provisions ran out. “If that’s not socialism, then what is? It’s about, ‘Oh I don’t have anything but you do, so you’re going to help me. I have something that you don’t, so I’m going to help you.’”

Jack Dupp, along with Wildermore and Alabama Getaway with Edward David Anderson, play the annual Toys For Tots Silver Ball fundraiser at the Castle Theatre on Saturday night.

The three bands will cover Jimi Hendrix; Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; and the Grateful Dead respectively. All three played the original Woodstock in August 1969.

Klug joined three members of Wildermore in the WGLT studios to talk about the Silver Ball and Woodstock, and preview a couple tunes each will be playing Saturday night.

Klug connected that seminal event to today’s political climate, and the annual giving spirit of the Silver Ball fundraiser.

“What’s missing from America today is people helping each other without being told to. Doing it because it’s right. That’s what love is. It’s about helping people because that’s the right thing to do,” said Klug as the others nodded in agreement.

You can click play below to hear the four cover CSNY and Hendrix in the WGLT studio this week.

Doors open at the Castle Theatre for this musical fundraiser at 6 p.m. Saturday. Music starts at 7 p.m. All are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy. Proceeds to benefit Toys For Tots of McLean County.

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Jon Norton is the program director at WGLT and WCBU. He also is host of All Things Considered every weekday.