Friday at 50th Monterey International Pop Festival

It’s an event that brought some of music’s most legendary artists to the Central Coast for 50 years.

Friday kicked off the Monterey International Pop Festival’s Milestone Anniversary.

Thousands come from all over to take part in the music festival that celebrates today’s artists and the ones that came before them.

Leon Bridges was just one of Friday’s big artists to perform and many more are expected throughout the weekend.

This festival started back in 1967. That’s when Lou Adler, John Williams and others came together to make it happen.

KION’s Paul Dudley got to catch up with Adler this week to talk about the festival’s historic past.

“A friend of mine, Andrew Oldham, who produces the Rolling Stones during that time said it was time when Monterey was needed, the music and the feeling of the crowd,” said Lou Adler. That original festival brought in close to 90,000 people. This year the crowds may be a little smaller but, not by much. There was a huge turn out Friday and with artists like Jack Johnson and Norah Jones on the roster an even bigger one can be expected Saturday.