The never-ending saga of Woodstock 50 continues as rumors swirl that Merriweather Post Pavilion will take on the wayward festival, following multiple permit denials by the potential host city of Vernon, NY as well as the event’s originally-planned home of Watkins Glen, NY.
However, as Variety reports, the musicians scheduled to perform are not completely sold. As an anonymous insider told them, “The bands won’t do it. They were contracted to play a show in Watkins Glen.”
The Columbia, Md. venue has a capacity of 20,000, which is a far cry from the festival’s initial estimation of 75,000 at Watkins Glen International Speedway.
Logistical issues have plagued Woodstock 50 since original Woodstock promoter Michael Lang revealed his master plan for the event at a flashy press conference in March.
After investors from the Japanese firm Densu allegedly pulled $18-million in funding from the event, an anonymous agent told Billboard, “No one knows what the hell is going on but there is clearly a problem.”
As representatives from Densu put it, “despite our tremendous investment of time, effort and commitment, we don’t believe the production of the festival can be executed as an event worthy of the Woodstock Brand name while also ensuring the health and safety of the artists, partners and attendees.”
John Mayer, who was slated to headline the event with Dead & Company, also commented, “I’m as much of a spectator as anyone else is to this wildness. I was told, ‘Yeah it’s not happening.’ There’s only one person still saying, ‘No, it’s gonna go.’ It reminds me of the scene in Monty Python [and The Holy Grail] where the knight is now missing the arm and the leg and he’s hopping up and down and saying, ‘It’s just a flesh wound.’ If those guys [Dead & Company] end up going, I will go, but it seems to me now: ‘It’s just a flesh wound’ and blood is spurting everywhere.”
Woodstock 50 remains scheduled for Aug. 16-18.
There is still yet to be an official onsale date for tickets.
UPDATE:
According to Bloomberg, local officials have confirmed Woodstock 50 will take place at Merriweather Post Pavilion.
“When we heard that there was an opportunity to save this festival and bring a piece of American history to our community this summer, we jumped at the chance,” said Howard County executive Calvin Ball. “Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia is a jewel of Howard County and one of the top music venues in the nation. It felt like such a natural fit to host a historic festival on our storied stage.”
The event is also being rebranded as “Woodstock 50 Washington,” acting as a fundraiser for issues like climate change and voter registration.
Tickets will allegedly range from $129 to $595, but the lineup remains uncertain. Jay-Z – who was scheduled to close the event – told the Associated Press that we will no longer be performing at the event. John Fogerty has also pulled out, which is particularly surprising figuring the Creedence Clearwater Revival musician stood beside promoter Michael Lang at the event’s official announcement event in March.
“They have a contract with us if they have a show to present along with a few details,” venue operator Seth Hurwitz told Pollstar. “If they have a real show than we have a real venue. It’s up to them to work things out with whomever they want to play, but it’s not my business. If they have a show we have a place for them to play. There’s no concern about permits or any of that. Anything beyond that I’m not even going to a stick a toe in it.”
20 Comments comments associated with this post
George
July 29, 2019 at 2:50 pmMichael Lang (nice guy btw) just got greedy. Should have just scaled down and had it at Bethel Woods (a BEAUTIFUL venue) original site.
jaggerrich
July 27, 2019 at 10:54 amAnnnnnnnnd NickthacuntPZ ‘STILL’ isn’t seeing any shows, yet still, (after all these years,See: Paul Simon) hasn’t made a contribution, positive or otherwise, to the JAMBANDS.com website, despite over 1000 horrid posts.
FillmoreEast
July 26, 2019 at 8:49 pmWoodstock and JZ just doesn’t sound right together….and the brown acid was NOT bad. Far. from it!
Jax Straw
July 27, 2019 at 9:07 amFILLMOREEAST,
I feel the same way. Who wants to see JZ.
Forget about it! I’ll be up at Bethel and the
Town Woodstock Jammin to the original lineup for the weekend.
Nick
July 26, 2019 at 7:40 pmJagger Rich still isn’t funny after all these years
Yeah, Tard
Figured you might’ve learned something at Phil one.org where I ate your lunch everyday but I guess not
Bill Ronk
July 26, 2019 at 6:02 pmLang is making the Woodstock name a joke.No one is taking it seriously. They should just call it the 50 Festival, for the number of tickets they are going to sell!
Michael Alan
July 26, 2019 at 5:27 pmIt’s a free concert. The NY State Thruway is closed.
Chris
July 26, 2019 at 4:36 pm“Woodstock Brand name”
Ugh. That phrase alone should be enough to turn anyone off from this.
jaggerrich
July 26, 2019 at 1:00 pmRumor has it they’ve now gone “outside the country” and WS50 will now be taking place at ‘Drums ‘n’ Flats’, a chicken wing/live music bar in mid-town Toronto, capacity 150, similar to “ME’s” venue on offer.
Drumsnflats.com (647) 347-9474
Cover charge: $500.00 usd for weekend pass, or $225.00 nightly (Fri./Sat.Sun.)
***DISCLAIMER*** We can not confirm that all originally-confirmed artists will play, however Toronto’s own ‘Caution Jam’ may headline the Saturday Night.
Wings: $31.00 usd / pound, $58.00 usd for two pounds. *Ghost Pepper sauce: $5.00 additional surcharge per pound. ***We cannot guarantee equal numbers of Drums or Flats per order.***
Eat Me
July 26, 2019 at 11:25 amMe has the best idea. Sorry, MPP is a horrible place too, choking traffic in and out. Artists pulling out left and right, Smashing Pumpkins already scheduled one night – its still not happening.
Rich
July 26, 2019 at 5:42 pmCheck out WE2019 for the wooodstock experience. It has all the Wodstock artists. It’s a peace and love stock festival.
Party in the pickle
July 26, 2019 at 8:39 amShortsville !!! Party in the pickle !! I’ll be there with all my cool friends and some three heads beer ! Bring on the bands Michael
me
July 26, 2019 at 12:30 pmRight on, you know where it’s at… see Michael, I already have more tickets sold than you!!!
me
July 25, 2019 at 4:58 pmI made the offer in the comment section of the last jamband update, and it’s still on the table. So you know I’m serious, let me give some more deets… my back yard, up to 179 people if we pack butt to nut. We’ll sell tix at the door (no scalpers, no Ticketbastard, no Pudhub direct to the fans… none of that Metallica bullshit… right on, bro), let’s say $150/tic? I even have a bathroom in my basement, right near the door to the back yard. I’m up for offering the VIP experience too (total of 5 packages available)! All levels have use of the kitchen AND the UPSTAIRS BATHROOM!!! Level 1 (3 packages) gets you floor space in my living room ($250), Level 2 (only 1 couch brah) gets you the couch ($500) and the Platinum Gold experience (1 package, unless your old lady is “up for a special night”, then we can squeeze her in too 😉 lets you share my queen size bed with me, though I may rage all night, in which case you sleep diagonal in my bed ($1000). I’ve even got a sbd, speakers, projector and screen so peops in the back can watch. Plus, I’m fuckin’ less than 2 miles off of the NYS Thruway (exit 43)! So, when MPP laughs at you (and they will), I’ll be here with a hug, some flowers and a place to shower naked… just drop a cool couple o’fiddy’s in my hand, kick me down anything but the brown and it’ll be 69 all over again! PEACE, LOVE AND WOODSTOCK FIDDY!
user123
July 25, 2019 at 4:42 pmJust give it up, it’s beyond being a joke at this point.
Toolio
July 25, 2019 at 10:22 pmForget MPP. Get lockn to open a week early and do back to back festies.
Layne
July 25, 2019 at 10:39 pmI’d spend 2 weeks in VA!
Lester
July 25, 2019 at 10:43 pmLockn would be perfect! They must have thought of that already.
Daddy
July 25, 2019 at 10:58 pmI doudt they were thinking about anything outside of ny. Surprised they’d consider somewhere else. MPP is great, especially now with the sky lawn, but not big enough. Lockn site would be amazing!
Scott
July 27, 2019 at 1:32 pmWhat is the sky lawn? I used to live in Md. & MPP is still my fav venue!