The classic Woodstock Festival might be making a comeback for its 50th anniversary.
Tales of the 1969 Woodstock Festival have become legend. Almost 500,000 people showed up over the rainy weekend to witness 32 acts but were met with bad weather and poor planning for the huge influx of people. These conditions were still quite refreshing as mass discontent with the government and the ongoing Vietnam war was hugely prevalent. People not only enjoyed the festival, but took back home memories of one of the pioneers of the music festival scene. After the wildly successful disaster (depending on how you see it), Woodstock was quite dormant with a 25th anniversary festival in 1994 and a majorly unsuccessful revival in 1999 which organizers would definitely like to sweep under the carpet.
Now as its 50th year anniversary approaches in 2019, Michael Lang, the person responsible for Woodstock ’69 told the Poughkeepsie Journal that discussions were under way with potential partners and different locations being explored. He also mentioned the possibility of an overseas event, in addition to one being planned for the U.S. Details on potential locations and possible performers were not available. The original Woodstock site is currently home to the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, a performing arts pavilion.
(Courtesy : woodstock.com)
Lang also said he foresees an annual festival, staged with the Woodstock name, continuing on beyond the 50th anniversary because, “Woodstock is the original and most famous festival brand. With the prevalence of festivals out there, and all the excitement about them, maybe it’s time for that,” he said, referring to an annual concert under by the Woodstock name.
This could be a turning point in music history if Woodstock stages a successful comeback. For people lucky to be at both the 1969 and 2019 editions, it could bring back a lot of memories of the biggest counter culture movement in the 60s and allow first timers a taste of the madness.