40 Days Until Woodstock 50. How are things going? (Hint: Not well.)
This has been a rough summer for music festivals, especially in Canada. The abrupt cancellation of the Roxodus Festival north of Toronto. The cancellation of the Hair in the Fair festival in Welland, Ontario. No Field Trip this year in Toronto. Victoria’s Rifflandia isn’t happening. And Skookum in Vancouver is taking the year off.
Then we have the drama surrounding Woodstock 50, which is supposed to start in exactly 40 days.
- The event has been scaled down from 150,000 to a venue that can hold 50,000 a best.
- Organizers admit there are “logistical hurdles” with the venue that need to be overcome.
- Finances are shaky.
- Tickets haven’t gone on sale yet.
- The 80-ish artists contracted to perform have no idea what’s going on.
- And did I mention the festival is scheduled to open its gates in 40 days?
If the discussion hasn’t started yet, it’s worth talking about what’s going on with events like this these days. Is this proof of “peak festival?” Maybe.
