Woodstock 50 concert organizers sue investor that backed out

A dispute over the future of the Woodstock 50 festival&l…; has spiraled into a court fight, with organizers suing and at least temporarily silencing a former investor that sought to call off the anniversary show.

Woodstock 50 organizers are accusing ex-partner Dentsu Aegis Network of verbally and financially sabotaging the big-name event that organizers insist will still unfold Aug. 16-18 in Watkins Glen.

Denstu Aegis, meanwhile, has pulled out of the concert and raised concerns about safety. And the two sides are clashing over nearly $18 million that the organizers say their ex-investor withdrew from the festival bank account.

"Dentsu's actions have caused a worldwide uproar over its efforts to kill the festival's commemoration of one of the most iconic cultural events of the 20th century," Woodstock 50 LLC's lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, wrote in a lawsuit filed in Manhattan this week.

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Behind the scenes, trouble began brewing between the organizers and their chief investor about six weeks ago, according to the lawsuit. It says Dentsu started to slow-walk payments and accused Woodstock 50 of violating their agreement — allegations that the lawsuit denies without detailing.

Then, on April 29, Dentsu announced it was canceling the event.

"We don't believe the production of the festival can be executed as an event worthy of the Woodstock brand name while also ensuring the health and safety of the artists, partners and attendees," the company said in a statement at the time. "As difficult as it is, we believe this is the most prudent decision for all parties involved."

Hours later, Woodstock 50 co-founder Michael Lang and Woodstock LLC said the concert remained a go.

"The bottom line is, there is going to be a Woodstock 50th Anniversary Festival, as there must be, and it's going to be a blast," they said.

But the back-and-forth has fueled doubts with just over 100 days to go, and upheaval has continued. Production company Superfly dropped out May 1; organizers say they're lining up a replacement.

Woodstock 50's lawsuit argues Dentsu can't unilaterally cancel the show, noting that their agreement says that "any decision to cancel the festival shall be jointly made in writing."

The suit also accuses Dentsu of telling performers to stay away from the festival and having "pillaged" $17.8 million from festival accounts. Dentsu has said it just "recovered" cash it had put in.

The original Woodstock concert in 1969 was held about 115 miles southeast of Watkins Glen on a farm in Bethel, New York.

It's now run by The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, which has its own anniversary concert planned Aug. 16-18 with performances by Ringo Starr, Fogerty and Santana.