Woodstock 50 plans roll on; court nixes cancellation bid
NEW YORK — The Woodstock 50 festival is back on after a court on Wednesday rebuffed an ex-investor’s effort to cancel the anniversary extravaganza — but organizers will have to do without some $18 million, at least for now.
Manhattan judge Barry Ostrager ruled the festival’s former chief backer, Amplifi Live, couldn’t singlehandedly call off the August show but also doesn’t have to put the $18 million back into it. The money dispute and other issues are poised for arbitration.
Organizers celebrated the ruling, which came after dueling claims about whether the festival was on or off.
“We have always relied on the truth and have never lost faith that the festival would take place,” said Michael Lang, one of Woodstock 50’s organizers and a promoter of the original 1969 Woodstock concert.