iradiophilly | Culture - Woodstock 50 has been Officially Canceled. Anniversary, tribute festival faced too many setbacks.

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Woodstock 50 has been Officially Canceled. Anniversary, tribute festival faced too many setbacks.

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 08/01/19 1:12 am | updated: 08/01/19 1:12 am

Organizers for Woodstock 50 have officially canceled plans for the anniversary, tribute festival that would have taken place the weekend of August 16 - 18. The festival faced setbacks from the time it was announced in January. The announcement of the lineup was pushed back several times. The Earth Day, April 22nd, on-sale day was placed on hold after they failed to secure proper permits. Around the same time, Dentsu Aegis Network, their financial partner backed out and declared the festival canceled. Throughout May, Woodstock and Dentsu battled in court, eventually leaving the festival free to continue. In June, Woodstock lost their license to hold the festival in Watkins Glen, NY. In mid July, Woodstock was denied permits to hold the festival at Vernon Downs. The attendance there would have been only half the originally estimated 100,000. The Oneida County town board citied the time frame left to pull off the event. Last week, it was announced that the festival found a new home at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. Although, August 17 is already booked for a Smashing Pumpkins/Noel Gallagher show. The change in geography led many artists to pull out. Some have scheduling issues, while others have to protect a radius clause for other tour dates. Finally, over the weekend they announced it would be a free benefit show. Without a secure lineup, permits, or budget they decided to call it off on Wednesday, 7/31.

The original lineup announced in March featured a wide range of acts from rock, pop, and hip hop. Headliners included The Killers, Miley Cyrus, Chance the Rapper, The Black Keys, Jay Z, Imagine Dragons, and Halsey. Several acts that played the original fest were also in the lineup including Santana, Dead & Company, John Fogerty, John Sebastian, Country Joe McDonald, David Crosby and Friends, and Canned Heat. Full Daily Lineup (large poster)

There is a music venue at the original site of Woodstock. The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is having concerts each of the three nights, August 16-18. Ringo Starr on Friday, Santana with the Doobie Brothers on Saturday, John Fogerty with Tedeschi Trucks Band & Grace Potter
on Sunday. If you want the full peace, love, and music experience come to the 58th Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival, also that weekend. Camping, crafts, and world class music. David Crosby, Joan Osborne, The Mavericks, Margo Price, and many more.

In August 1969, the original Woodstock drew almost a half million people together in a time of political turmoil to enjoy a few days of peace and music. That festival remains the most iconic musical gathering in history with performances by Richie Havens, Santana, Grateful Dead, Credence Clearwater Revival, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Joe Cocker, Janis Joplin, The Band, Sly & the Family Stone, CSNY, and Jimi Hendrix. "Woodstock 1969 was a reaction by the youth of its time and the conditions we faced," says Woodstock co-founder Michael Lang. "We proved that it is possible to live together in harmony and with compassion... with only our best selves represented. Woodstock gave people around the world hope, which is why I think it remains relevant today."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WOODSTOCK 50: MERRIWEATHER EVENT CANCELLED

WOODSTOCK, NY - July 31, 2019 - Woodstock 50 today announced that the three-day Festival to celebrate its 50th Anniversary has been cancelled.

"We are saddened that a series of unforeseen setbacks has made it impossible to put on the Festival we imagined with the great line-up we had booked and the social engagement we were anticipating," said Michael Lang, co-founder of the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival. "When we lost the Glen and then Vernon Downs we looked for a way to do some good rather than just cancel. We formed a collaboration with HeadCount to do a smaller event at the Merriweather Pavilion to raise funds for them to get out the vote and for certain NGOs involved in fighting climate change. We released all the talent so any involvement on their part would be voluntary. Due to conflicting radius issues in the DC area many acts were unable to participate and others passed for their own reasons. I would like to encourage artists and agents, who all have been fully paid, to donate 10% of their fees to HeadCount or causes of their choice in the spirit of peace. Woodstock remains committed to social change and will continue to be active in support of HeadCount's critical mission to get out the vote before the next election. We thank the artists, fans and partners who stood by us even in the face of adversity. My thoughts turn to Bethel and its celebration of our 50th Anniversary to reinforce the values of compassion, human dignity, and the beauty of our differences embraced by Woodstock."

Added Greg Peck, principal of Woodstock 50: "The unfortunate dispute with our financial partner and the resulting legal proceedings set us off course at a critical juncture, throwing a wrench in our plans and forcing us to find an alternate venue to Watkins Glen. The timing meant we had few choices where our artists would be able to perform. We worked hard to find a way to produce a proper tributeâ€”and some great artists came aboard over the last week to support Woodstock 50â€”but time simply ran short. We are greatly disappointed and thank all of our supporters, including the team at Merriweather Post Pavilion and Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. Woodstock's values of peace and tolerance are more important today than ever for all of us to stand for and we look to the future for ways to honor and celebrate these ideals."