Woodstock will return this summer to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
After years of rumours and speculation, the original festival's co-creator Michael Lang has revealed a three-day event will take place in Watkins Glen, New York between August 16 and 18. Tickets are set to go on sale in February, the same month the first acts will be announced.
Organisers are yet to reveal any specifics but Lang confirmed to Rolling Stone that 40 acts have already been booked across three stages, including some huge headliners.
"It’ll be an eclectic bill. It’ll be hip hop and rock and some pop and some of the legacy bands from the original festival."
A selection of contemporary bands will also pay tribute to artists that appeared on the original line up, which saw iconic sets from Joe Cocker, Jefferson Airplane, the Who, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, among others, in 1969.
"Having contemporary artists interpret that music would be a really interesting and exciting idea. We’re also looking for unique collaborations, maybe some reunions and a lot of new and up-and-coming talent."
Lang has made sure to distance the upcoming festival from the chaotic Woodstock '99 event that culminated in a wave of lawsuits following fires, riots, sanitation problems and sexual assaults. The upcoming festival will be far superior to the muddy field in Bethel, New York, where the original Woodstock took place.
"Woodstock ’99 was just a musical experience with no social significance. It was just a big party. With this one, we’re going back to our roots and our original intent. And this time around, we’ll have control of everything.
There will be ‘glamping’ tents and stuff like that. There will be those types of experiences in various forms where there’s a real bed, and there’s a chair to sit in and a light bulb. There will also easier access to portable toilets."
Last month details surfaced of an unofficial 50th anniversary event in Bethel to celebrate Woodstock’s special milestone. Make sure to head here to stay informed about the official celebration, Woodstock 50.
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