Woodstock 50 was a good idea, but based on the myriad of issues the event faced as it tried to get off the ground, it seemed like it just wasn’t meant to happen. The event was unofficially canceled once, but now Woodstock 50 has truly reached its end, as the event has officially been canceled.
Woodstock co-founder Michael Lang said in a statement:
“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. 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. […] 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.”
Greg Peck, principal of Woodstock 50, added, “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 tribute — and some great artists came aboard over the last week to support Woodstock 50 — but time simply ran short.”
Seth Hurwitz — operator of Merriweather Post Pavilion, where the festival was set to be held — also said, “While we were able to quickly eliminate the venue portion of the challenge to present Woodstock, it was just too late in the game. Hopefully, with plenty of time to prepare, Merriweather will become the site of a future festival that captures the original vibe. A lot of people clearly wanted it to happen.”
This announcement comes after a whirlwind of news about the festival over the past few days. Artists pulled out of the event, all performers were released from their contracts, and the fest relocated to a venue outside of New York. The original lineup was set to feature Jay-Z, Chance The Rapper, Earl Sweatshirt, The Killers, The Black Keys, Miley Cyrus, and many others.
