Popstar Miley Cyrus, who was one of the headlining artists for Woodstock 50, has officially called-off her performance.
Variety broke the news Tuesday night after hearing from multiple sources that the star pulled out of the festival. Cyrus joins a handful of artists who have also backed-out of their performance including the Raconteurs, the Lumineers, and original Woodstock 1969 performers John Sebastian and Joe McDonald. Hip-hop star Jay-Z, Dead & Company, John Fogerty, and The Black Keys previously announced that they would not be performing at the anniversary event.
This is yet another setback for Woodstock 50. Last week, reports revealed that the festival would be moving forward with a new venue in Columbia, Maryland after multiple denied proposals to hold the event in Vernon, New York. Since the festival was moved from Upstate New York to Maryland, organizers had to release artists from their original contracts and have now dubbed the event as “free.” Seth Hurwitz of I.M.P. Concerts said that he would help out with the festival – if artists actually show up.
Now, with no money to pay the artists, organizers are simply hoping that performers will volunteer to take the stage. So far, headliners Imagine Dragons and The Killers have not announced if they will still perform at the festival, but according to Variety, sources say that five acts have agreed to perform, including the Zombies. Additionally, sources say that the three-day festival will likely become a one-day event.
Co-manager Cindy da Silva told Variety that she “always believed it would happen, which might sound kooky, but we’re at a messed-up moment in time right now and the spirit of Woodstock is something that we need.”
“If this was any other festival I’d say ‘Give it up already,’” she said, “but maybe the way it’s happening is right: It shouldn’t be for profit, it should be about peace and love and music and charity and people coming together. If it turns out the way it looks like it should, I do believe it’ll be a powerful event that could be a moment of change. Maybe there’s a reason it hasn’t gone away yet.”
At this point, Woodstock 50 is still scheduled to be held outside of Baltimore at the Merriweather Post Pavilion from August 16 to 18. Organizers have not released any official statement about tickets, pricing, the venue, or headliners at this time.
