First they lost their funding... then they lost their location ... then they lost their artists ... now, despite a last ditch effort to move the festival to Maryland's Merriweather Post Pavilion - the Woodstock 50 organizers have decided to pull the plug on the festival.

 

Co-founder Michael Lang said in a statement

 

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

 

Greg Peck, a principal of Woodstock 50, told TMZ:

 

The unfortunate dispute with our financial partner and the resulting legal proceedings set us off course at a critical juncture, throwing a wrench in our plans and forcing us to find an alternate venue to Watkins Glen.  The timing meant we had few choices where our artists would be able to perform. We worked hard to find a way to produce a proper tribute—and some great artists came aboard over the last week to support Woodstock 50—but time simply ran short."

 

The festival, originally scheduled to be held Aug 16-18 in Watkins Glen, NY, had a lineup that received mixed reactions - featuring The Killers, Jay Z, Dead & Co, Santana, The Lumineers, and more.  

 

In April - the organizers lost their principle financial partner  ... then ran into trouble with permits and a location ... 

 

Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD offered their venue as a site for the location - but many of the artists dropped off the bill when they were released from their contracts following the new venue being announced ... Woodstock 50 organizers say artists get to keep their fees, asking they donate 10% of it to charity ... 

 

Lang also has said: 

We thank the artists, fans and partners who stood by us even in the face of adversity

 

Merriweather organizers have come out saying they aren't closing the door on the idea of a multi-day festival, saying

 

hopefully, with plenty of time to prepare, Merriweather will become the site of a future festival that captures the original vibe

 

I guess  the real winner here is Smashing Pumpkins and Noel Gallagher - who's August 17th show at Merriweather can now go on without any interference.