Woodstock 50: Dead & Company Drop Out, Other Artists Released from Contracts
Woodstock 50 lost another artist over the weekend when Dead & Company dropped out of the festival.
Rolling Stone reported a source confirmed the Grateful Dead offshoot dropped out of the anniversary festival joining Jay Z as the second headlining act to cancel their appearance following the announcement that the event was changing venue locations from upstate New York to Columbia, Maryland.
John Fogerty was the first artist to publically back out of the festival last week. Woodstock 50’s lineup page on their official website currently doesn’t list any artists, as it has in previous weeks. The artist list has been replaced with a message that reads, “As our celebration evolves, we are committed to bringing unique voices to the stage. Stay tuned for updates as we strive to create an event rooted in peace, love and music that can be a force for positive change in the world.”
This is the latest blow to Woodstock 50, who has also formally released artists from their original contracts, thus, not making them obligated to perform at the festival, even though most artists have already been paid. Billboard reports that since artists were originally contracted to perform in Watkins Glen, N.Y., the new venue change to Columbia, Maryland’s Merriweather Post Pavillion would be a breach of contract, since the new venue is about 350 miles south from the original festival site. As of publishing, no other artists have publically pulled out of the festival.
Last week, Bloomberg first reported about Woodstock 50’s third public venue change to the Merriweather Post Pavillion, which holds about 32,000 people. Woodstock 50 is still scheduled to take place on August 16-18. Although tickets have yet to go on sale, Bloomberg reported passes will cost from $129 to $595.
