WOODSTOCK 50 Is Officially Canceled

July 31, 2019

Woodstock 50 has officially been canceled. Michael Lang, a co-founder of the original three-day concert, called off the event after attempting to move it to Maryland.

Earlier this month, organizers attempted to relocate the festival to Maryland's Merriweather Post Pavilion after four failed attempts to stage the concert at Vernon Downs in Vernon, New York.

Woodstock 50 was originally slated to take place in Watkins Glen, New York, but the show ran into financial trouble in late April when its main investor pulled out. Following that, Woodstock 50 was hit with more defeats, including the loss of the Watkins Glen location, three different producers quitting, and contractual breaches.

"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," Lang said in a statement. "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 [voting encouragement organization] HeadCount to do a smaller event at [Columbia, Maryland's] Merriweather Pavilion to raise funds for them to get out the vote and for certain NGOs involved in fighting climate change."

Among the artists that were originally scheduled to perform at Woodstock 50 were THE KILLERS, THE LUMINEERS, THE RACONTEURS, Robert Plant, THE HEAD AND THE HEART, GRETA VAN FLEET, PORTUGAL. THE MAN, RIVAL SONS, IMAGINE DRAGONS, CAGE THE ELEPHANT, YOUNG THE GIANT and JUDAH AND THE LION.

Other acts included a mix of original Woodstock performers and newer artists such as Miley Cyrus, SANTANA, RUN THE JEWELS, Maggie Rogers, John Sebastian, Chance The Rapper, Sturgill Simpson, Leon Bridges, DAWES, Margo Price, COUNTRY JOE AND THE FISH, Halsey, Brandi Carlile, Janelle Monae, Common, Vince Staples, CANNED HEAT and others.

Calvin Ball, the county executive for Howard County, where Merriweather Post Pavilion is located, said in a statement he shared "in the disappointment of everyone who hoped to celebrate the anniversary of 'Peace & Music' with a festival this summer."

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