Woodstock 50 is officially done.
Founder and promoter Michael Lang issued a statement saying:
“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…
“When we lost Watkins Glen and then Vernon Downs [both in New York State] we looked for a way to do some good rather than just cancel. We formed a collaboration with HeadCount to do a smaller event at the Merriweather Pavilion [in Columbia, Maryland] to raise funds for them to get out the vote and for certain NGOs [Non-Government Organization] involved in fighting climate change.
“We released all the talent so any involvement on their part would be voluntary. Due to conflicting radius issues in the D.C. area many acts were unable to participate and others passed for their own reasons. I would like to encourage artists and agents, who all have been fully paid, to donate 10% of their fees to HeadCount or causes of their choice in the spirit of peace.
“Woodstock remains committed to social change and will continue to be active in support of HeadCount’s critical mission to get out the vote before the next election. We thank the artists, fans and partners who stood by us even in the face of adversity. My thoughts turn to Bethel [New York and the site of the original festival] and its celebration of our 50th Anniversary to reinforce the values of compassion, human dignity, and the beauty of our differences embraced by Woodstock.”
The festival was going to take place as a free event for charity August 16th through the 18th. Among the artists who were originally scheduled to appear included Robert Plant, David Crosby, Dead & Company, Santana, Imagine Dragons, Jay-Z, Chance the Rapper, The Killers, John Sebastian, John Fogerty, Miley Cyrus and many others.