Woodstock May Turn 40 in Brooklyn

Original photo via pjcoleman's flickr.

This should be interesting. As previously mentioned, the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock is upon us, and there's been talk of bringing the concert to New York City. It seems one of the original organizers (and Bensonhurst native), Michael Lang, wants Prospect Park's Long Meadow to be the Brooklyn substitute for Max Yasgur's 600-acre farm when the anniversary concert takes place later this year. The Daily News reports that he's currently looking for enough sponsor support, and he told the paper, "It's big, it's convenient. There's public transportation - and Brooklyn's cool. I'd love to do it. But it's been a very tough year." The show would be free, and he would need around $10 million to make it happen.

If Lang gets miracle'd with his sponsor money, he's expecting up to 150,000 people to fill up the nearly 90-acres of Long Meadow. Some of the acts he's interested in booking include Crosby, Stills and Nash, along with Neil Young, as well as what the Daily News calls "newer bands" like Phish (who have only been around a paltry 26 years). Lang noted that the infamous 1999 riot-laden Woodstock was "more of an MTV event. The music was much too angry for me."

There is one other little glitch if this does happen, the real anniversary date of August 15th has already been booked! But Lang & Co. have pulled off bigger things before—later this year the movie Taking Woodstock will hit the big screen, get a little glimpse of how the show came to be in the trailer after the jump (where Lang will be played by Spring Awakening's Jonathan Groff). In the meantime, we propose that the organizers take inspiration from Civil War reenactors and stage a Woodstock reenactment instead. Cover bands like Dark Star Orchestra (The Dead) could help keep the event under budget, without compromising any of that authentic hippie crowd smell.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in Arts and Events on April 6, 2009 1:12 PM

Comments [rss]

SeasTooFarToReach

It's doable, if he invites only artist from the local indie scene.

Only about 5 thousand people would show up to the events and about 3 thousand would flock surrounding areas, hanging out and looking cool.

It'd be great to get an event of this caliber to be totally free, but please, Mr. Lang, put your brain to use and try to grasp the concept of reality. You need to take this to a suburban area, where your nearest neighbor lives about 2 miles away.

tmz is evil

Nothing cuter than newbs hand wringing about the type of large scale event that New York has pulled off without a hitch for years before they were even born.

Because you know how newbs think. If it's new to them, it must be new to the city, and consequently, a guaranteed "clusterfuck" and "logistical nightmare." Because New York has never, ever, ever held any type of event like this before and doesn't have a clue about how to anticipate problems. And these newbs are soooo much smarter than the city and the guy who's trying to get this all off the ground.

ROFLMAO... Yeah, okay. Whatever. *snicker*

Lastime

Could be good some place else

dogbraincatscan

this may be AWFUL. Phish fans (being one of them) ARE RABID. I can almost guarantee that thousands upon thousands of out of state phans (as we call ourselves) will be making the trek to see Phish---and probably knocking out Brooklyn and other city residents by camping out for days in line.

CR

This is the best idea since that free Diana Ross show in Central Park.

CR

This isn't worth talking about as there's no way in hell it's ever going to happen.

goya51

And for how long do you think the park would be unusable after an event like this. All the grass on the lawn will be dead, the woods will be filled with garbage and makeshift toilets.

Clickety-Clickety Clack

This is the worst idea EVER. Aside from the obvious logistical nightmare does anybody remember what happened at the last Woodstock? That's JUST what we need...

Tower18

If this actually happens, you can bet your ass I will be out of town that weekend. What a clusterfuck waiting to happen.

hotstepper

for anyone thinking these regurgitations are like woodstock, i've got some genuine louis vuitton bags from canal street to sell you.

Bluealways

Some of the acts he's interested in booking include Crosby, Stills and Nash, along with Neil Young

Seems like Green-Wood Cemetery would be a more appropriate venue.

katers

honestly, no. if this is a free event, WAY MORE than 150,000 people will show up. overrunning a space that structurally cannot accomodate it. the thought of the trash and traffic alone that would suffocate the surrounding neighborhoods makes my stomach churn.

woodstock was awesome for what it was. an impromptu peaceful gathering on a farm in upstate new york, 40 years ago. can't we just leave it at that? why do we have to reinvent everything, make a sequel to everything?

ANGRYGOD11

The Woodstock ideal died many years ago.

In doesn't belong anywhere in 2009.

Please stop digging it up and let it rest in nostalgia already.

fugothamist

worst.idea.ever

Global Wombat

*hissssssssssss*

JMH

Phish sucks.

Son of Spam

and he would need around $10 million to make it happen.

Permits, construction, appearance fees, crew, insurance, health services, nypd overtime.

Only $10 million, eh? I think this guy took some of the brown acid.

I guess he could make up some of that cost by selling $10 bottles of water. Because THAT went so well over so well last time.

firewire

this is a great idea.

by that standard, feeding your children powdered laundry detergent for breakfast is also a great idea.

nicemarmot

NO. No Woodstock in NYC! These people are nuts!

babyhitler

bad idea jeans.

goya51

Please God, no. What kind of idiot thinks that Prospect Park is set up for 150,000 people? All these people are going to be driving there, thinking they can park somewhere. They would totally overrun the surrounding neighborhoods, making it look like the aftermath of a natural disaster.