Jay-Z, Dead & Co., the Killers to Perform at Woodstock 50
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 5 years ago on
March 20, 2019

Share

NEW YORK — Jay-Z, Dead & Company, and the Killers will headline one of the 50th anniversary shows commemorating the groundbreaking Woodstock festival this summer.

“It’s kind of spooky how similar things are. How some of the things that we thought we’d gone past in the last 50 years — the racial divides, care for the environment and women’s rights — now we have Black Lives Matter and the #MeToo movement and climate deniers and another (expletive) in the White House.” — Woodstock co-founder Michael Lang

Woodstock co-founder Michael Lang announced Tuesday that Miley Cyrus, Santana, Imagine Dragons, Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters, the Black Keys, and Chance the Rapper will also perform at the Woodstock 50 Music and Arts Fair, which will take place Aug. 16-18 in Watkins Glen, New York, about 115 miles northwest of the original site. The event is separate from an anniversary concert planned at the site of the original festival in 1969.

Tickets for the three-day festival pushing the message of peace, love, and music go on sale April 22, which is Earth Day.

Lang said though Woodstock took place 50 years ago, today’s world and 1969 are somewhat parallel.

“It’s kind of spooky how similar things are. How some of the things that we thought we’d gone past in the last 50 years — the racial divides, care for the environment and women’s rights — now we have Black Lives Matter and the #MeToo movement and climate deniers and another (expletive) in the White House,” Lang said. “So, it’s very similar.”

Lang made the announcement at a press conference at Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios in New York City alongside Common and John Fogerty, who performed at the original Woodstock. Both Fogerty and Common will perform this summer.

More Than 400,000 People Attended Woodstock in 1969

Fogerty, 73, recalled performing his set in 1969 after the Grateful Dead hit the stage. He said he took the stage after midnight and half of the audience was asleep.

“I was frustrated and I said something like, ‘We hope you’re having a good time out there. We’re playing our hearts out for ya up here.’ And I don’t really see much moving. I see a light, somebody’s lighter goes on in the darkness and somebody out there says, ‘Don’t worry about it John, we’re with ya!’ So I played the whole rest of my complete Woodstock concert for that guy,” he said.

“To be able to be connected to Woodstock in any shape, form or fashion for me is one of the greatest honors I’ve had as an artist, as human being (and) as a musician.” Common, hip-hop artist

More than 80 artists, including David Crosby, Janelle Monae, Brandi Carlile, Country Joe McDonald, Halsey, the Lumineers, Portugal the Man, and India are expected to perform on three main stages at Watkins Glen International racetrack in the Finger Lakes for Woodstock 50. The original concert was held on a farm in Bethel, New York that is now run as an attraction by The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. The venue plans its own anniversary event Aug. 16-18.

Common, 47, said he is happy to represent hip-hop music at Woodstock 50 and be a part of a festival that not only focuses on music but has a strong social and political presence.

“To be able to be connected to Woodstock in any shape, form or fashion for me is one of the greatest honors I’ve had as an artist, as human being (and) as a musician,” the Grammy, Oscar and Emmy winner said. “There’s so much going on right now (and) I think one of the best ways we can combat the ignorance, the divisiveness, the hatred is to go out there (and) push love and express love and practice love, and it definitely comes through, that love comes through at Woodstock.”

“I’m not 50, but I’m grateful to be a part of this,” Common said as the audience laughed.

More than 400,000 people attended the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair, which was held Aug. 15-17, 1969.

DON'T MISS

New Book Explores the Myths, Truths and Legacy of the Macho Man

DON'T MISS

Oscar Moments: Talk of War & Peace, a Coronation for Nolan, and Ken-Demonium for Gosling

DON'T MISS

WWE, a Social Media Powerhouse, Tops 100 Million Subscribers on YouTube

DON'T MISS

Dirt-Cheap Gardening Secrets

DON'T MISS

Upcoming Netflix Documentary Series Features Fresno State Profs

DON'T MISS

Eric Carmen, the Raspberries Frontman and ‘All by Myself’ and ‘Hungry Eyes’ Singer, Dies at 74

DON'T MISS

Dirt-Cheap Gardening Secrets

DON'T MISS

Jake Paul Fight Against Mike Tyson Is Announced for July 20 and Will Be Streamed Live on Netflix

DON'T MISS

CMAC Seeks Female Filmmakers for New Documentary Program

DON'T MISS

Sinead O’Connor’s Estate Asks Donald Trump to Stop Playing Her Music at Rallies

No data was found

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

12 hours ago

Fresno Bank Sued. It Allegedly Helped Bitwise Commit Fraud.

Bitwise /

12 hours ago

How California’s Prized Solution for Methane Gas Is Backfiring on Farmers

Environment /

15 hours ago

Supreme Court Seems Favorable to Biden Administration Over Efforts to Combat Social Media Posts

16 hours ago

Putin Extends Rule in Preordained Russian Election After Harshest Crackdown Since Soviet Era

16 hours ago

Ohtani to Begin Throwing Program Soon. Roberts Hints Dodgers Star Might Play in the Field

16 hours ago

Trump: Some Migrants Are ‘Not People’, There’ll Be a ‘Bloodbath’ if I Lose

16 hours ago

Tech Lawyer and Philanthropist Nicole Shanahan Rumored as RFK Jr.’s VP Pick

News /

16 hours ago

March Madness is Here. UConn, Purdue, Houston and North Carolina Get Top Seeding in NCAA Tournament

17 hours ago

Crafts Retailer Joann Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy as Consumers Cut Back on Pandemic-Era Hobbies

17 hours ago

Records Show That Valley Children’s Leader Suntrapak’s Pay Exceeds $5 Million

■Valley Children’s paid CEO Todd Suntrapak $5.2 million in 2021. The hospital also gave him a $5 million forgivable home loan. ■The Va...
Healthcare /

11 hours ago

Healthcare /
11 hours ago

Records Show That Valley Children’s Leader Suntrapak’s Pay Exceeds $5 Million

Local Education /
12 hours ago

3 Valley Schools Honored by State as Model Community Day Schools

Local Education /
12 hours ago

Will FUSD Trustees Look First Only at Internal Candidates in Superintendent Search?

12 hours ago

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

Bitwise /
12 hours ago

Fresno Bank Sued. It Allegedly Helped Bitwise Commit Fraud.

Environment /
15 hours ago

How California’s Prized Solution for Methane Gas Is Backfiring on Farmers

16 hours ago

Supreme Court Seems Favorable to Biden Administration Over Efforts to Combat Social Media Posts

16 hours ago

Putin Extends Rule in Preordained Russian Election After Harshest Crackdown Since Soviet Era

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend