Woodstock 50 Canceled

[Jeff Scott]

...the Woodstock Brand name...

Disgusting, really.

 

[ZAR14]

Considering the lackluster list of performers, is anyone surprised?

 

[40Hz]

I was thinking that it was "we can't charge less than $xyz and be able to pay all of these artists. Coachella is charging about the same and their location isn't a dingy old racetrack. I can't see any affluent teen or twentysomething wanting to do both festivals, or Woodstock in a non-pot-legal state in lieu of Coachella in a pot-legal state. This was a dumb idea."

I think it was a dumb idea to think that “Woodstock” would exert any lure for any affluent teen or twenty-something.

The thing that made Woodstock unique was it mostly just happened. The promoters put it together to make money. And “the people” basically said “screw that” and took it over. The surprise was that the promoters realized that, although the money was lost, it was a historic moment in the history of mass civil disobedience and did everything they could to convince Gov. Nelson Rockefeller not to send in the National Guard like he wanted to. And because a confrontation was avoided, it stayed peaceful instead of becoming another bloodbath like the DNC in Chicago did due to then Mayor Daly deciding he was going to show a bunch of hippies who the Big Boss in Chicago was, Bill of Rights be damned.

In the famous words of L.P. Hartley: “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there." If you’re not from that era you probably don’t know much about the times, the events, or even the names involved. And you probably care even less since it’s not your generation or your generation’s battles.

So why pitch Woodstock as an totem to a new generation who doesn't think anything like the first generation Woodstock Nation did? Might as well do a ‘40s Big Band revival while you’re at it. Nostalgia only draws diminishing returns. Because anybody lured to something purely out of a sense of nostalgia ultimately goes home realizing you can’t bring back the past. Or even go back to live there, even if it’s just for a weekend. It’s a lost world.

The world has moved on. Today you've got Coachella, SXSW, and other new (or newer) events that better reflect the mindset and interests of those in attendance.

Gone is gone. Onward!

 

[joe vegas]

Jay-Z, Miley,
and
"...it's a dream for agencies to work with iconic brands..."
pretty much says it all.

as a breath of pure air and as an antidote to this toxic corporate sludge, consider one of the greatest Airplane songs of their fantastic original Woodstock set.

All of them are in their rippin' prime, but Jack helms the ship in unparalleled style.
depth, power, cool. everything corporate isn't.

 

[REMBO]

I was thinking of going... however, the list of artists that were playing didn't appeal to me....

 

[40Hz]

I enjoy watching many of the performances from 94 (and 69). It's something I've never had a chance to experience.
Genuinely asking, who was "going through the motions"?

‘94 was going through the motions. A large part of the audience was behaving how they thought you should be behaving “at Woodstock.” It was a more a re-enactment than what used to be called a “happening.” A little too self-conscious. And maybe trying just a little too hard.

Just like any other wake when you get right down to it. Another gathering where everyone is trying to do and say just the right thing.

 

[CryingBass]

I remember. I was not there.

 

[CryingBass]

WoodChalla

 

[40Hz]

I remember. I was not there.

I don’t remember. So does that mean there’s a good chance I might have been?

 

[Tim Schnautz]

Woodstock 50 Canceled

By Daniel Kreps

Woodstock 50 – Scheduled to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the legendary music festival – has been canceled.

Although the all-star lineup – featuring Jay-Z, Miley Cyrus, Dead & Company, the Raconteurs and dozens more, including acts from the original Woodstock fest – was announced in early March, tickets for the festival did not go on sale; a planned Earth Day on-sale in April was postponed due to reported permit issues.

However, on Monday, Dentsu, one of the festival’s main investment arm, announced that Woodstock 50, organized in part by Woodstock co-founder Michael Lang, would not proceed.

“It’s a dream for agencies to work with iconic brands and to be associated with meaningful movements,” Dentsu said in a statement. “We have a strong history of producing experiences that bring people together around common interests and causes which is why we chose to be a part of the Woodstock 50th Anniversary Festival.”

The company continued, “But 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. As a result and after careful consideration, Dentsu Aegis Network’s Amplifi Live, a partner of Woodstock 50, has decided to cancel the festival. As difficult as it is, we believe this is the most prudent decision for all parties involved.”

Imagine Dragons, Kacey Musgraves, Run the Jewels, Chance the Rapper, Halsey, John Fogerty, Robert Plant and dozens more were booked to play the Watkins Glen, New York festival on August 16th through 18th, exactly 50 years after the original festival; another 50-year anniversary event is planned for Bethel, New York at the site of the original Woodstock.

At a press conference announcing Woodstock 50 in March, Lang said of the event, “What we’ve assembled here is a combination of some of the great artists from our era and many of the great artists of today and hopefully some of the great artists of tomorrow. Many of these artists are committed to social change, have their own issues that they support, but also support these global issues of climate change and Black Lives Matter.”

Rumors about the fate of Woodstock 50 began when the festival missed its April 22nd on-sale date. “There is currently a hold on the Woodstock 50 on-sale date; the festival reportedly didn’t acquire a mass gathering permit from the New York State Department of Health. Organizers denied claims at the time that the festival would be canceled.

“Woodstock is a phenomenon that for 50 years has drawn attention to its principles and also the rumors that can be attached to that attention,” Lang said, dismissing the rumors. However, after a week passed without updated ticket information, Dentsu canceled Woodstock 50 Monday. According to Billboard, the festival was canceled due to concerns about the capacity of the festival, permit issues and site readiness.

The Watkins Glen, New York site has now seen large-scale music festivals canceled in consecutive years: In 2018, Phish’s Curveball was called off at the last minute due to water conditions at the festival site.

That means they won't have to clean up hundreds of tons of trash left behind by the tree huggers.

 

[Tom Gallo]

It was nothing but a money grab.

 

[CB3UK]

Couldn't pay me to see most of the bands on that bill

 

[Tim Schnautz]

I think it was a dumb idea to think that “Woodstock” would exert any lure for any affluent teen or twenty-something.

The thing that made Woodstock unique was it mostly just happened. The promoters put it together to make money. And “the people” basically said “screw that” and took it over. The surprise was that the promoters realized the money was lost but it was a historic moment in the history of mass civil disobedience and did everything they could to convince Gov. Nelson Rockefeller not to send in the National Guard like he wanted to. And because a confrontation was avoided, it stayed peaceful instead of becoming another bloodbath like the DNC in Chicago did due to then Mayor Daly deciding he was going to show a bunch of hippies who the Big Boss in Chicago was, Bill of Rights be damned.

In the famous words of L.P. Hartley: “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there." If you’re not from that era you probably don’t know much about the times, the events, or even the names involved. And you probably care even less since it’s not your generation or your generation’s battles.

So why pitch Woodstock as an totem to a new generation who doesn't think anything like the first generation Woodstock Nation did? Might as well do a ‘40s Big Band revival while you’re at it. Nostalgia only draws diminishing returns. Because anybody lured to something purely out of a sense of nostalgia ultimately goes home realizing you can’t bring back the past. Or even go back to live there, even if it’s just for a weekend. It’s a lost world.

The world has moved on. Today you've got Coachella, SXSW, and other new (or newer) events that better reflect the mindset and interests of those in attendance.

Gone is gone. Onward!

Speaking of Coachella, here's a great reason why I stay away from stuff like that. Safer to stay home and practice bass..

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[fretter]

Even though it was before my time, I think that the artists who played the original Woodstock should be the only ones associated with it. To me, the followups seemed like an attempt to cheapen, caricature or erase the legacy of the original.

 

[fretter]

 

[Michedelic]

Now we can look forward to Altamont 50!

 

[monsterthompson]

Weak lineup. Big pricetag. cant compete with Coachella.

I mean how can you compete with this? And the payment options are so flexible.
(A few NSFW language moments)

 

[monsterthompson]

It was nothing but a money grab.

Best response I’ve seen to this type of comment, by Doyle from Misfits.

 

[Aidenn7]

Prolly for the best..

 

[Kukulkan61]

There could never be another Woodstock like the first one...