NYS Music 20​18

Tag: michael lang

  • Original Woodstock co-creator closer to an Official Anniversary Announcement

    Days after the announcement of the Bethel Woods joint venture with Live Nation and INVNT to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock, original Woodstock co-creator Michael Lang quickly reminded fans that the “real” anniversary show will be announced soon.

    Labeled as the Music and Arts Festival celebrating the golden anniversary of Woodstock, the Bethel Woods event takes place Aug. 16-19 on the original grounds where Woodstock was born in 1969. Having the backing of Live Nation for the Bethel event could be a huge advantage when trying to secure big name artist to appear at the event.

    Producer and co-founder Michael Lang stated in an recent email that he “is producing the official anniversary, but not at Bethel Woods.” He also stated through his publicist that “While the original site in Bethel remains close to our hearts, it no longer has the capacity to hold a real Woodstock Festival. I’m delighted that Bethel Woods is doing events in the coming year to celebrate what we brought to life in 1969, and I encourage people to visit the museum and concert venue.”

    Lang also stated that in the next few weeks, he will announce “plans for the real Woodstock 50th Festival to bring back the much needed spirit and energy of the 1969 original.”

    With the date for Bethel Woods confirmed, speculation that the Lang anniversary festival will compete with  the Bethel event, which is slated close to the original weekend the festival took place in August 1969. Placing Lang’s show close, or the same weekend as the Bethel event could be troublesome for both events. Fans don’t want either show to be a watered version of the original, and are looking for both events to exceed their expectations.

    Live Nation may restrict artists performing on their show, from appearing at Lang’s, especially if the dates are close together. There could also be performance clauses restricting artist from appearing in the same 100 mile radius within 90 days of each show. Guitar legend Carlos Santana, who appeared at the original Woodstock festival has stated that he will be part of the Bethel event and also expressed interest in playing Lang’s.

    Fans can stay updated about Lang’s Woodstock festival at the official Woodstock site. 

  • Definite plans underway for Woodstock 2019

    There will be a Woodstock festival in 2019, fifty years after the iconic 1969 affair. Michael Lang, promoter of the festival for the past five decades, spoke with the Poughkeepsie Journal on Friday, November 16, confirming that plans are shaping up. While the date, lineup, and other details are not ready to be revealed, Lang told the Poughkeepsie Journal that the 50th anniversary will come full circle to the original themes of sustainability, activism, and social justice.

    We’re hoping to inspire people to speak up and get involved and get out and vote and help us save the planet. We are in trouble and it seems like we’ve been brought back in time in a lot of ways. It’s eerie how similar a lot of things are to the way it was in the late ‘60s. Lessons we thought we learned seem to be coming back, unlearned. The progress we learned in social justice seems to be going backwards.

    – Michael Lang, Woodstock Music and Arts Festival Promoter

    During a Q&A at the Long Island Music Hall of Fame ceremony earlier this month, Lang was asked, “Plans for 50?” He responded, “Coming. I can’t yet, but coming. Definitely coming.”

    Last December, New York State’s Regional Economic Development Council awarded the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts — a performing arts center located on the grounds of the original Woodstock — $689,063 for a three-day festival to celebrate the 50th anniversary.

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