Woodstock 50th Anniversary Festival is Cancelled

Written by Sam Wolfe

Woodstock 50, which was set to take place in Watkins Glen, New York on August 16th-18th, has been cancelled, according to reports from Billboard. The festival, which was set to be headlined by artists such as Jay Z and Miley Cyrus, has been plagued with issues since its announcement, including delayed ticket sales and issues securing necessary permits. Shortly after its announcement, Black Keys pulled out of the lineup, citing “scheduling conflicts” as the reason.

Dentsu Aegis Network, the team that was funding the festival, shared the following statement: “It’s a dream for agencies to work with iconic brands and to be associated with meaningful movements. 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. 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.”

It’s worth noting that Woodstock 50 has “vehemently denied” the cancelation in a statement to the Poughkeepsie Journal, and assures “legal remedy will be sought.”

Have we not learned our lesson from Fyre Fest?