WOODSTOCK HEADS SOUTH; DEFECTIONS BEGIN (update)

In a last-minute deal, Michael Lang's embattled anniversary festival has secured Maryland's Merriweather Post Pavilion as the location for Woodstock 50.

7/26 saw word break that the fest's announced closer, Jay-Z, would no longer be appearing, according to the AP, with John Fogerty announcing his lone Woodstock 50th anniversary performance would be in Bethel, N.Y. This was followed by reports that the other artists had been released from their contracts. Who, if anyone, will remain from the originally promised lineup? How on earth will Woodstock still tickets with the festival coming up in exactly three weeks?

The saga of the festival's onslaught of fumbles include the inability to secure Watkins Glen as host, the loss of financiers Dentsu Aegis, loss of headliners and, most recently, the rejection by the city of Vernon.

Producers have confirmed the event will take place 8/16-8/18 at the Columbia, Md. outdoor amphitheatre, which has a capacity of 20k—a fraction of the 150k people initially projected for Watkins Glen.

Although no headliners has been confirmed for the latest iteration of the event, the original lineup lists Jay-Z, Miley Cyrus, Dead and Company, Santana and many more as part of the anniversary. The artists have already been paid and hold the right to refuse to play the festival due to breach of contract throughout the venue relocation process, along with retaining their fees.