DEAD ‘WOOD’
50th ann’y fest nixed after rash of turmoil
It’s the day the music died, again.
Woodstock 50 was officially canceled Wednesday, just weeks ahead of the event, according to a statement provided to the Daily News.
“We are saddened that a series of unforeseen setbacks has made it impossible to put on the festival we imagined with the great lineup we had booked and the social engagement we were anticipating,” said Michael Lang, who cofounded the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival. “We looked for a way to do some good rather than just cancel.”
The ambitious three-day music festival was meant to commemorate the iconic 1969 Woodstock festival that brought together The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Santana and more.
Headliner Miley Cyrus pulled out of the lineup Tuesday, according to Variety. Her move followed cancellations by the Lumineers, the Raconteurs and Woodstock alumni Santana, Country Joe McDonald and John Sebastian.
Last week, John Fogerty, who also performed at the original festival with CCR, pulled out hours after the venue switched from Watkins Glen in upstate New York to Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md.
Jay-Z, meant to close the festival, withdrew Friday.
The festival was first announced in January, and trouble began brewing thereafter.
The Black Keys canceled April 5 due to a “scheduling conflict,” after the lineup was announced March 19. On April 29, primary investor, Dentsu Aegis Network withdrew when capacity was reportedly decreased from 100,000 to 75,000. Dentsu was originally told there would be an audience of 150,000.
“We thank the artists, fans and partners who stood by us shortly even in the face of adversity,” Lang said, wanting to “reinforce the values of compassion, human dignity and the beauty of our differences embraced by Woodstock.”
“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,” Greg Peck, principal of Woodstock 50, said. “But time simply ran short.”
Though artists were only contractually obliged to perform if Woodstock 50 took place at Watkins Glen International Speedway as planned, artists and agents were all “fully paid,” Lang said. He suggested they contribute 10% of their earnings to “causes of their choice in the spirit of peace,” or Head Count, a nonprofit that encourages voter registration.
“Woodstock’s values of peace and tolerance are more important today than ever for all of us to stand for,” Peck added. “We look to the future for ways to honor and celebrate these ideals.”