Woodstock 50 Producer Superfly Pulls Out

Production company Superfly has pulled out of the Woodstock 50 festival. A representative for Superfly confirmed the news to Rolling Stone on Wednesday. The loss comes after the event’s financial backer, Japanese firm Dentsu Aegis, dropped its funding of Woodstock 50 on Monday and declared the festival canceled.

Superfly co-produces Bonnaroo and Outside Lands each year. The firm was set to help present Woodstock 50 at Watkins Glen International racetrack in Watkins Glen, New York August 16 – 18 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the original 1969 event.

“With Superfly leaving the fold, that’s just the death knell,” a source with plenty of experience working on festivals for the past 20 years told Rolling Stone adding that Superfly’s decision was “catastrophic” for the future of Woodstock 50. “I guess AEG or C3 could make it happen,” the source explained to Rolling Stone in reference to the companies that produce Coachella and Lollapalooza respectively. “But they would need a lot of assurance that it was a tenable situation. It just feels so unwieldy. It feels really sick. I’m not even sure Dr. Oz could revive this patient.”

The latest update on Woodstock 50’s social platforms was posted on April 18 and discussed renewable fuels. On Tuesday, Woodstock 50 legal counsel Marc Kasowitz told Rolling Stone the event will move forward. “This confirms that Woodstock 50 is proceeding with the planning and production of the festival,” Kasowitz said in a statement to the publication. “Dentsu has no legal right or ability to cancel it. All stakeholders, including the entertainers, should proceed with the understanding that the event will take place as planned and if they have any questions, they should reach out directly.”