Wed 7/13 @ 7PM
Ken Kesey and his so-called Merry Pranksters, who set off on a random journey across America in an old bus named Furthur, were known for creating the “acid tests” on the mid ’60s, the precursors of the psychedelic concerts of later in the decade which involved dropping a lot of acid and grooving on music and light shows. That culture and era were immortalized — and spread to eager young would-be hippies — by TomWolfe’s 1968 book The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.
Kesey died in 2001, but his son Zane is carrying on the family mission. He recruited a new band of Pranksters and loaded them on the Furthur bus to travel to music festivals, tribal gatherings and other events as well as national landmarks — and even a night at the Kent Stage.
Of course, they documented the whole thing, as the original Pranksters did, but, being a bit less scatterbrained than the original crew, they actually were able to turn it the footage a documentary called Going Furthur, exploring the roots of ’60s counterculture and how its influence continues today.
That documentary will screen at the Kent Stage with the cast and crew present including original Prankster George Walker. They’ll participate in a Q&A following the 7pm screening. After the screening, at 9pm, Canton-based singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist John Welton, a member of the jam band Waterband, will play. Admission is $12.
thekentstage.com/going-furthur/
Kent, OH 44240