More woes for Woodstock 50 as location permit is denied

Watkins Glen International was the intended location for Woodstock 50 (Image credit: Woodstock 50)

Last month, the beleaguered Woodstock 50 festival was plunged into further chaos when it emerged that original site venue Watkins Glen International had pulled their support for the event.

Despite the latest setback to hit the festival – which has also seen main investors Dentsu Aegis Network withdraw their support, forcing organisers to say the company had “no legal right or ability” to try and cancel it – those behind Woodstock 50 vowed to move forward and secure another location for the event, which is still scheduled to take place on August 16-18.

Variety report that a site at Vernon Downs in Oneida County, New York, had been proposed – one of “three or four” possible venues according to organiser Michael Lang – but that the permit to secure the location has now been denied.

The website say that the promoters will appeal the decision, but Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. explains: “What they have submitted to date has not met many of the requirements.”

Picente Jr. adds: “We could have done this with a year or 16 months advance planning, but to do it in three to six weeks is really a near impossibility from a public safety and health standpoint.

“As someone who was here for 1999, some names have changed but it’s largely the same situation.”

A Woodstock 50 spokesperson has since told Variety that they believe “certain political forces may be working against the resurrection of the festival.”

But they add: “With a venue chosen, financing assembled and many of the artists supporting Woodstock’s 50th anniversary event, the organisers are hopeful that their appeal and reapplication tonight will prevail without further political interference.”

Artists including Robert Plant And The Sensational Space Shifters, Greta Van Fleet, Santana, David Crosby And Friends, The Raconteurs, The Killers, Rival Sons, The Zombies and Gary Clark Jr are due to play at Woodstock 50, but at the time of writing, tickets are not yet on sale.

Scott has spent 37 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 12 years, Scott has written more than 11,500 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.