more artists drop off Woodstock 50; The Raconteurs schedule replacement show
UPDATE: Miley Cyrus is also out for Woodstock 50…but The Zombies are in.
Woodstock 50 continues to lose artists from its original lineup following its move from Watkins Glen in NY to Maryland’s Merriweather Post Pavilion, which will host the festival… if festival organizers can secure a lineup in time. Jay-Z, John Fogerty, and Dead & Company are all officially out, and now some more acts have followed them. Rolling Stone reports that The Raconteurs have officially taken their leave of Woodstock 50, and they’ve scheduled another show for the day they were previously scheduled to perform. “Unfortunately, the Raconteurs will no longer be playing Woodstock 50,” a representative for the band told Rolling Stone. “In lieu, they are heading to Niagara Falls to headline The Rapids Theatre on August 16th!”
The other two artists who dropped off, Country Joe McDonald and former Lovin’ Spoonful frontman John Sebastian, both performed at the original 1969 edition of the festival. “I was with them all the way until the location changed,” Sebastian told The Baltimore Sun; he already has a show booked in the area that would contractually prevent him from performing at Merriweather Post Pavilion in August. “And it pisses me off, because I feel like a blood brother with Michael [Lang], and I would love to be able to join him,” Sebastian continued.
McDonald, on the other hand, told The Baltimore Sun that he hasn’t heard from promoters in weeks, and doesn’t intend to perform at the relocated festival with details uncertain at the last minute. “I have no airfare booked,” he said. “I have no hotels. I have nothing planned. I’m not interested in getting on a ship that’s sinking, and I don’t see any indication that this ship is not sinking.”
UPDATE: Two additional artists have also pulled out of Woodstock 50: The Lumineers, whose representative confirmed to Rolling Stone that they wouldn’t be performing, and Carlos Santana, whose rep gave Rolling Stone a statement. “Carlos is definitively not playing Merriwether Post Pavilion and has added his name to those who will not be appearing,” it reads. “We can’t come back and do a free show two days after a paid show. Go buy a ticket to the Supernatural show!”
If Woodstock 50 happens at Merriweather Post Pavilion, at least some tickets will be free, and details are expected by the end of the week on that front. Stay tuned.
