Woodstock 50, an anniversary festival that was planned to be held at the original site of the 1969 iconic one, has all but lost its promoted lineup as Miley Cyrus, The Raconteurs, and OG performer Santana are the latest to cancel their appearances.
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With a lineup that initially boasted the likes of Jay Z, The Killers, Janelle Monaé, Courtney Barnett, Halsey, and Chance The Rapper across three days in August at the original Woodstock site, the festival has run into endless complications ranging from financial backers bailing, festival organisers being refused to hold it at the location in Watkins Glen, and now promised artists pulling out left, right, and centre.
As reported by festival organisers confirmed, The Raconteurs have booked a different gig on August 16 – directly clashing with the proposed festival – and Miley Cyrus has reportedly withdrawn from the festival as well. Rolling Stone also reports that The Lumineers have also excited the festival, after The Raconteurs departure.
Earlier in July, Jay-Z and John Fogarty pulled out of their headline spots on the lineup, and Dead & Company stepped away last week. The Black Keys stepped away from their appearance back in April.
As more artists step back from wanting anything to do with the festival under a month out from kicking off, the whole thing is teetering closer to being a whole redux of the infamous Fyre Festival.
On top of all of this mess, Woodstock 50 also announced that it’ll be free to go along to the festival – which I think is now happening in Maryland, pending permit applications, which apparently haven’t been submitted.
After Jay Z’s departure, we all know how that ended up. that entry will be free, with those wanting to show up encouraged to donate their ticket money to a charity instead.
Regardless, we’ll be keeping a keen eye on whether the festival will get off the ground in just over two weeks’ time. It’s possible that this may eclipse Woodstock 99 as the one anniversary with the most chaotic energy, and we all know how that one ended up.
