Woodstock 50 has not been canceled, the organizer insists: "It'll be great"

Is Woodstock 50 canceled? The principal investor of the 2019 festival said that the three-day event in Watkins Glen, New York, had been canceled and that the county was "moving," but Woodstock's 50th anniversary co-founder and organizer, Michael Lang, said the show would continue.

"We are determined to ensure that the 50th anniversary of Woodstock is marked by a festival worthy of its iconic name and its place in American history and culture," said Lang in a statement issued by Woodstock Ventures. . "While our financial partner is retiring, of course, we will continue to plan the festival and engage new partners, and we would like to thank New York State and Schuyler County for their hard work and support.

"In the end, there will be a 50th anniversary festival in Woodstock, as it should, and it will be an explosion."

Woodstock 50 was scheduled for August 16-18 at the Watkins Glen International Circuit. Jay-Z, Santana, Miley Cyrus, The Killers, Chance the Rapper, John Fogerty, Janelle Monae, Dead & Company, Imagine Dragons and Halsey. The finance company, Dentsu Aegis Network, announced Monday that the 50th anniversary of three days had been canceled.

"… Despite our considerable investment of time, effort and commitment, we do not believe that festival production can be achieved as a worthy event for the Woodstock brand while ensuring the health and safety of artists, partners and and artists. participants, "said representatives of Dentsu in a statement.

But Lang told the New York Times Monday afternoon: "They (Dentsu) do not have the right to cancel the festival unilaterally". Lang said that all the acts had already been fully paid and that he was considering continuing with another investor.

Billboard reports that more than $ 30 million has already been spent on festival programming. Last week, a representative reportedly contacted Live Nation and AEG for a $ 20 million investment to save the event, but the two concert booking agencies declined. We do not know what other investors might look for.

The future of the Woodstock 50th Anniversary Festival is uncertain, but no refund is required as tickets were still not on sale (although some hotels and lodges in the area have already been booked). Rumors of cancellation first appeared earlier this month when the ticket sale date was postponed due to a late request for a mass collection permit.

Lang also expressed concerns that the tickets would cost $ 450 for three-day passes and reduce the expected number of participants from $ 100,000 to $ 75,000. One Black Keys star was even withdrawn because an unspecified "schedule conflict".

Nevertheless, the New York State Department of Health said it was "surprised" by the announcement of the cancellation, only 109 days before the scheduled date for Woodstock 50. A DOH representative told syracuse.com Monday that the cancellation was not related to the state's permit application pending for the event.

Schuyler County Administrator Tim O'Hearn confirmed Monday that Woodstock 50 was canceled. Watkins Glen is located in Schuyler County, about 80 km southwest of Syracuse and 150 km northwest of the original Woodstock site in Bethel, N.Y.

"We have been in contact with the Chamber of Commerce, which was trying to save something from the fallout from this decision," O'Hearn said. m said Monday, according to Spectrum News. "It was an opportunity for us to showcase our great natural environment … We are going to heal our wounds and move on".

But if you're not ready to move on, you can hope that Lang pulls a rabbit out of his hat. The original Woodstock Music and Art Fair lost its meeting place in Wallkill, New York, in July 1969, but Lang reached an agreement a few days later at Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, near White Lake.

More than 400,000 people attended the first Woodstock Festival, August 15-18, 1969, at Yasgur Farm in the Catskill Mountains. Performers include Richie Havens, Jefferson Airplane, Who, Joan Baez, Jimi Hendrix, Arlo Guthrie, Santana, Joe Cocker, Grateful Dead and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

The iconic concert was revisited in 1994 with a range of modern artists such as Nine Inch Nails, Sheryl Crow, Metallica, Cypress Hill and Red Hot Chili Peppers at Saugerties, but Woodstock's # 99 – held at the base Air Force Griffiss Air Force in Rome, NY – – has been marred by riots, fires and allegations of sexual assault. Lang helped organize both anniversaries.

In the meantime, the original Woodstock site is still celebrating its 50th anniversary in Bethel, NY. The Bethel Woods Arts Center has abandoned its plans for a weekend festival, but will feature four days of events: a free concert by Arlo Guthrie and screening of the documentary "Woodstock" on the field, Thursday, August 15; Ringo Starr, Guthrie and The Edgar Winter Band on the pavilion stage, Friday, August 16; Santana with the Doobie brothers on Saturday, August 17; and John Fogerty on Sunday, August 18th. Guthrie, Winter, Santana and Fogerty all performed at the original Woodstock Festival.