“There should be new young artists emerging like in the 60/70's, but maybe that's wishful thinking, especially with the rise of AI. These days, the music industry is ruling the music business as it ever was, and it's heavily in the minority. Music is becoming purely a consumer product, and the artists are interchangeable.”

Harry Loco: The Music of Love & Peace

The Dutch Dylan singer/songwriter Peace activist Woodstock performer and troubadour Harry Loco is well known in the folk music scene, he has been playing at home in the Netherlands and abroad for years, at festivals, clubs and concert halls. He performed with artists from the 60s/70s, including Melanie Safka (Beautiful People, Lay Down) Slade, Eric Burdon and the Animals, Sheena Spirit (Santana) Ira Stone ( Bert Sommer) Dutch celebrities: Alides Hidding (Time Bandits), Herman van Veen, Freek de Jonge, Cuby & the Blizzards and many others. Toured met Essra Mohawk (Frank Zappa) in Nashville. In 2014, Harry performed at the official 45th anniversary of the famous Woodstock festival in Bethel, NY, even playing at Woodstock 50 and Woodstock 53 where he brought “the candle of Peace to Woodstock” from the Netherlands. A candle lit by the former press officer and friend of Martin Luther King: Harcourt Klinefelter.

(Harry Loco / Photo by Patricia Dorsaneo)

The candle was lit at the memorial for formal Woodstock organizer Michael Lang at Yasgurs farm at a special event were Harry played his Magical Finland the song while the candle were lit from man to man. Harry plays special guitars from Finland, Landola, and plays harmonica and vocals.

Interview by Michael Limnios                       Archive: Harry Loco, 2014 interview

How has the Beats and Rock Counterculture influenced your views of the world and the journeys you’ve taken?

Even though our world has changed rapidly and dramatically, the music from that time remains very much alive. The music has obviously changed as well and in my view, the music from back then has become more underground. I have been fortunate to experience the history of these movements in a kind of reverse motion. Since 2001 btw. I was lucky that after the performances with Melanie Safka I received many invitations from America. There I felt at home in the various scenes and it felt like I had landed in the sixties. I also found the roots of Woodstock 69 in particular with meetings with Artie Kornfeld and Michael Lang.

Why do you think that the 1960s underground movement continues to generate such a devoted following?

Mmm, it's unfortunately a dying breed. The heroes of the past are increasingly exchanging the temporary for the eternal. Of course, we have the albums and the videos, and they keep the spirit alive. For me it means trying to make the connection between past and present (it's always about people and the movement) I was again invited (Woodstock 50th  reunion ) and wrote two special songs to make that connection; Starchild (Woodstock 50) and the magical I & You (during this song you shift with another person)

Starchild

Starchild bring the light, into this world tonight

In your eyes I can see the sky, a beacon of light

In the darkness of today we can use some light anyway

Building castles in the sand, free your mind , fly high , endless sky, there is no

limit in what you can bring

Starchild, the wind is blowing hard into my face today

Rain is pouring, getting wet, waiting for a new way

In the darkness of today we need your light anyway

Golden dreams, for a better day, here to stay, Woodstock ,Melanie , candles in the rain

Starchild I feel you right now, it’s time to show our inner light

Beams of light, warm and tight, fill my soul with sight

Every new born need to have a chance, empty words if  there is no heart that

speaks

We need too much words to explain; I can hear you, feel you, see you, heal me  

Strawberry fields

(whispering ; Strawberry fields)

“Over 25 years on the road, I've seen it all. Keep innovating and stay true to yourself and your music, don't follow the hype. Have confidence in what you do. Connect with your audience on many levels so that you become One, the ultimate.” (Photo: Harry Loco)

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

There should be new young artists emerging like in the 60/70's, but maybe that's wishful thinking, especially with the rise of AI. These days, the music industry is ruling the music business as it ever was, and it's heavily in the minority. Music is becoming purely a consumer product, and the artists are interchangeable. “the man on the guitar" is fortunately ineradicable and will always remain. So you could say that the current music scene has just a little influence on the debate. We still have Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young who let the counter-voice be heard. Meanwhile Santana still goes strong with the same vibes and intention from the days back then. (I saw them playing during Woodstock 50 at Bethel woods Bethel NY) And I am still on the road with the future that Michael Bowen (Summer of Love SF 67) did draw for me. Personally, I've adjusted my goals and would love to take my stories and songs to the theatre. However, finding the right agent isn't easy. I've learned to manage energy and inspire people (on a small scale). Since "The Concert for One" in Finland, I feel connected to the universe at every performance, and everything flows naturally. This allows me to fully enjoy everything that happens during the performance.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Over 25 years on the road, I've seen it all. Keep innovating and stay true to yourself and your music, don't follow the hype. Have confidence in what you do. Connect with your audience on many levels so that you become One, the ultimate.

What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?

After COVID, business collapsed. Many small folk, jazz, and blues pubs and clubs closed their doors for good. It was shocking, and I didn't have an immediate response. It also wasn't inspiring, and just a little sense came out of my guitar. I have the idea it slowly opens again.

John Coltrane said "My music is the spiritual expression of what I am...". How do you understand the spirit, music, and the meaning of life?

John was right, that is the ultimate way for a musician to express. To be or not to be….and on we go!

“Woodstock 69 was the only Woodstock there ever was, it can't be copied or imitated. The Spirit of Woodstock is alive and well and can now be passed on through the "flame of peace to Woodstock." It was also lit by Jeryl Abramson (owner of Yasgurs Farm) at Michael Lang's memorial during the magical drumming circle” (Photo: Harry Loco)

Life is more than just music, is there any other field that has influence on your life and music?

I will always remain an activist who wants to give people support and hope. And criticizing wars and violence, and especially the hypocrites. So I don’t feel welcome anymore in America (cancelled the 2025 tour to NY) for the rest. Family life is undervalued and the next step is to see that in fact the whole world is a family. unfortunately there a lot of super conservatives who want to turn back the clock. I am curious to the new generations that are coming soon (see Starchild) In 2022 I had an insight: in a dream, I was told to come up with something for peace. It had to be pure, intangible, and infinitely divisible. I was invited back to Yasgurs farm for the reunion, and also to play at the memorial for Michael Lang. I was also invited by Ira Stone to a memorial for Bert Sommer (Ira played with Bert at Woodstock 69). It is certainly worth mentioning that the memorial for Bert Sommer was combined with the memorial for Charlie Malone (the "mayor" of Woodstock and employee of Bethel Woods, the Woodstock museum in Bethel NY. Knowing this I knew what to do. I would bring a candle: "the flame of peace to Woodstock"—a flame that could be shared by everyone. The candle was lit for the first time by Harcourt Klinefelter, MLK's former press secretary. Thus, the deeds and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. were added to the deeds and legacy of Woodstock 69.

Woodstock 69 was the only Woodstock there ever was, it can't be copied or imitated. The Spirit of Woodstock is alive and well and can now be passed on through the "flame of peace to Woodstock." It was also lit by Jeryl Abramson (owner of Yasgurs Farm) at Michael Lang's memorial during the magical drumming circle. And it was lit up in the Town of Woodstock at Candle stock where a huge candle is burning since 1969….. It's also worth mentioning that Juma Sultan, among others, lit the candle. (Juma played with Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock 1969.) The flame continues, and hopefully it has now reached Ukraine…..

How do you approach the process of songwriting, and are there any specific themes or emotions you tend to explore in your music?

I never consciously wrote songs; often a song simply came into being as a result of playing a tune on the guitar. After COVID, it was pretty much over. What now? What does the world need? Ah... happiness, a moment of silence... stoned? Everybody…everybody….everybody must get stoned (a metaphor for a moment of happiness) So that was the birth of “Hop on the bus Gus” Inspired by Ken Kesey’s Further bus back in the sixties (acid tests) I was on that original bus during the Woodstock 45th anniversary at Yasgurs farm (the Woodstock farm from Max Yasgur) Bethel NY.

(Harry Loco / Photo by Jaspar Moulijn)