This Woodstock Performer Inspired the Very First “Lighter Wave” Moment in Concert History

The trend has changed over the years, adapting with the times, but the sentiment remains the same. Decades ago, concertgoers began holding up lighters to show their appreciation for an artist on stage. It was a public outpouring of sentiment, connecting with one another and their favorite musicians through a simple but affecting act. Nowadays, those lighters are typically phone flashlights. Despite the technological advancement, the feeling hasn’t changed.

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Waving a light at a concert is such a familiar thing that many of us haven’t once thought about where this tradition comes from, including me. The story behind the first lighter wave is just as special as the act itself. This time-honored tradition started in a not-so-surprising place, Woodstock 1969.

The Woodstock Performer Who Got the First Lighter Wave

While some might think a rocker helped jump-start this tradition, it was actually the result of a performance by a green folk artist just barely into her career.

Woodstock was an epicenter of musical growth. There were countless moments from this iconic festival that completely changed the trajectory of music. It’s more legend than history. But one moment that isn’t talked about quite as much as, say, Hendrix playing the national anthem is this lighter moment, facilitated by Melanie Safka.

[RELATED: The Electrical Error That Caused Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir to Call The Grateful Dead’s Woodstock Set “Terrible”]

Safka (often referred to mononymously as Melanie) was just barely invited to Woodstock. She only really had one hit, “Look What They Done To My Song Ma”. She was so little-known that she wasn’t even invited backstage. Her set kept getting delayed to the point that she wasn’t sure she would ever go on. Eventually, she did get her shot, but not before it started to rain.

“I Felt Like I Was Going Into A Dark Abyss”

Once Sakfa finally got on stage, the sun was down, and the rain had been going on for a while. According to the folk legend, she felt as if she were walking out “into a dark abyss.” Nevertheless, she persevered and began to play a simple set.

Then, at the festival organizers’ prompting, the crowd started to light up. Lighting candles and holding up matches, the audience gave Safka the first lighter wave moment.

“The announcer had said something—probably something dumb, maybe something inspirational—about how everyone should light a candle to keep away the rain,” Safka continued. “And they passed out candles. To me, it looked like the entire universe was lighting up.”

It was a simple moment, but it completely transformed Safka’s Woodstock experience. And eventually sparked a tradition that would be continued for decades. The next time you go to a concert and turn on your phone light during a poignant moment in the set, remember Safka and this fan-favorite act’s origins.

(Photo by: Universal Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)