WATKINS GLEN, NY (CelebrityAccess) As Woodstock co-creator Michael Lang has been telling the press that the fiftieth-anniversary edition of Woodstock is still on the books, the entertainment company Superfly, which co-promotes festivals like Bonnaroo and Outside Lands, has reportedly backed out of the event.
“The producers of the Woodstock 50th anniversary festival hired Superfly to leverage our expertise as veteran event producers to manage festival operations, a role that aligned with our mission of creating shared experiences that build community,” a representative for the company told Rolling Stone. “Throughout our engagement our team provided counsel and recommendation on the necessary elements required to produce a safe and first-class experience. Following the decision of one of our clients, Dentsu, to cancel the event, we will no longer be participating in ongoing related activities.”
The announcement comes as a rumor emerged that organizers asked AEG and Live Nation for a $20 million investment in the event and was declined.
“Maybe one of them wants some money,” the source, a festival marketing veteran, told RS. “I guess AEG or C3 could make it happen. But they would need a lot of assurance that it was a tenable situation. It just feels so unwieldy. It feels really sick. I’m not even sure Dr. Oz could revive this patient.”
A rep for AEG declined to comment.
In a statement released via Woodstock Ventures earlier this week, Lang said: “We are committed to ensuring that the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock is marked with a festival deserving of its iconic name and place in American history and culture. “Although our financial partner is withdrawing, we will, of course, be continuing with the planning of the festival and intend to bring on new partners. We would like to acknowledge the State of New York and Schuyler County for all of their hard work and support.”
“The bottom line is, there is going to be a Woodstock 50th Anniversary Festival, as there must be, and it’s going to be a blast,
