Last night saw the line-up for the 50th anniversary of Woodstock being announced, and the bill has divided opinion among many.
The original Woodstock was held in the Catskill Mountains near New York City between August 15–18 in 1969, and was famed as the pinnacle of ‘The Summer Of Love’ when more than 400,000 people flocked to see the likes of Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Santana, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, Joan Baez and many more.
Woodstock ’94 celebrated the 25th anniversary in Saugerties and saw Green Day, Nine Inch Nails, Metallica, Aerosmith, Bob Dylan, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Peter Gabriel and Gil-Scott Heron perform, while Woodstock ’99 was held in Upstate New York and marred by incidents of violence and sexual assault. Limp Bizkit, The Offspring, KoRn, Bush, Sheryl Crow, Moby, and Creed were all among the performers that year.
Now, it’s been confirmed that the ‘Woodstock 50’ celebration festival will be held at New York’s Watkins Glen and will feature The Killers, Dead & Company, Jay Z, Miley Cyrus, Chance The Rapper, Imagine Dragons, The Black Keys, The Raconteurs among the line-up.
It's time #Woodstock50☮️♥️🎵 pic.twitter.com/gvyCXegh6F
— WOODSTOCK (@woodstockfest) March 19, 2019
Many are thrilled about the big names on the bill, and how it reflects modern music and culture in 2019.
“People are grumbling that the Woodstock 50 line up isn’t just folk and rock,” wrote one Twitter user. “Surely Woodstock was cutting edge music of the era and so Woodstock 50 should be too.”
Another added: “The line-up looks very Coachella-ish. But, slightly better. Santana, John Fogerty, The Killers, Robert Plant, Greta Van Fleet and Jay-Z is more than enough.”
People are grumbling that the Woodstock 50 line up isn't just folk and rock. Surely Woodstock was cutting edge music of the era and so Woodstock 50 should be too
— Will Black (@WillBlackWriter) March 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/ktvdbb/status/1108157098704150529
Robert Plant and John Fogerty? Sign me up. https://t.co/ChzioBvTZp
— stevie (@astoldbystevie) March 20, 2019
The line-up looks very Coachella-ish. But, slightly better. Santana, John Fogerty, The Killers, Robert Plant, Greta Van Fleet and Jay-Z is more than enough. May have to go for the entire weekend. My birthday weekend too https://t.co/3HmcufVYqj
— DC Hendrix (@dchendrix) March 20, 2019
santana and robert plant were meant to be there. no doubt about it. legends. icons. and i think it’s funny greta van fleet are playing the day after robert plant, the man they sound so much like. but they deserve to be there. they’re dedicated.
— Mr. Rime™ (@ShakingCactus) March 20, 2019
Others, however, are less than impressed. Many feel that the bill doesn’t quite live up to the legacy or ‘vibe’ that Woodstock is supposed to represent.
“It’s like the people who made the Woodstock lineup didn’t know what Woodstock was,” wrote one disappointed Twitter user. “Where is Lana Del Rey? Gambino? Maybe even Demarco? Where is that 60/70s vibe? Give me an epic revival for one of the greatest rock festivals of all time, like geez.”
Another added: “Imagine telling your kids you saw Imagine Dragons at Woodstock and your kids immediately punching you in the face.”
Did a 13 year old book Woodstock?
— Shamir (@ShamirBailey) March 20, 2019
It’s like the people who made the Woodstock lineup didn’t know what Woodstock was. Where is Lana Del Rey? Gambino? Maybe even Demarco? Where is that 60/70s vibe? Give me an epic revival for one of the greatest rock festivals of all time, like geez.
— 🦇𝕳𝖔𝖙𝖊𝖑 𝕭𝖊𝖑𝖑𝖆 𝕸𝖚𝖊𝖗𝖙𝖊🦇 (@asmadasarabbit) March 20, 2019
Imagine telling your kids you saw Imagine Dragons at Woodstock and your kids immediately punching you in the face pic.twitter.com/ONoEsfoMHQ
— Ryan Mac 🙃 (@RMac18) March 20, 2019
the Woodstock 50 lineup looks like it was curated by someone who's only exposure to music has been through the Grammy's "Best Rock Performance" category between 2010-2013
— bianca davino (@biancccadavino) March 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/AnanaFiend/status/1108169134553088000
Woodstock invited chance the rapper and Halsey before they invited tame impala or Lana or anyone else that is even remotely influenced by rock and older music. pic.twitter.com/wmPFbTl8Kw
— Kristina. (@lickthispaynis) March 20, 2019
This is more like a TMZ expo, than a genuine rerun of Woodstock.
I reckon a real Woodstock II would headline people like Bob Dylan, Cher, Adele, Sia, and the like. More genuine soul and less pop flair. https://t.co/tCYaCSTTjq
— 🌎 Richard Alexander (@Aus_RichAlex) March 20, 2019
Stop saying people can’t be mad about the Woodstock lineup. There’s 58492738 other music festivals where rap, r&b & pop artists can perform. The whole point of Woodstock was to keep it in folk & rock roots.
— 𝓫𝓻𝓲 ✰ (@simpIyqueen) March 20, 2019
The festival will not take place on the original Woodstock site, with the town of Bethel organising its own celebratory event on the same weekend. That bill includes the likes of Ringo Starr, Arlo Guthrie, and Santana.
