Music festival approved for Woodstock ’94 site

Lang, when asked this week why CounterPoint’s websites have not yet listed any new events in Saugerties, while several festival blogs have downright refuted news of what’s being planned for Winston Farm, replied that, “the thing to remember is that they’re not sure they’re not doing Atlanta as well. From what I’ve heard there are also plans for a CounterPoint in the Midwest.”

He added that it was still too early to discuss the two other events he’s currently negotiating with for this year’s inaugural season at Winston Farm.

“We’re still trying to figure that all out,” Lang said. “We’ll know soon, though.”

As for what he needed to do to prepare the site for this summer, and provide festival organizers with the materials they need for permitting, the concert promoter said he’s working with his partners from the 1994 festival (and a later 1999 event in Rome, NY) to ensure site-plan reviews, required engineering studies, parking plans, water and sewage platting and so forth run smoothly.

“We basically have 60 days to complete everything,” he said.

Site work for this first year in Saugerties will necessitate the replacement of a bridge, bringing in new gravel for roads, and re-establishing site entrances and exits.

“We’re not going to reactivate the water system or electrical grid for this summer,” Lang said. “The festivals being planned now will operate as they do trucking in their own water and running their electric from generators. We’ll do the bigger work for the 2014 season.”

On hand to put everything together at Winston Farm, he said, would be the same teams from 18 years ago, including engineer and roads guy Mike Stock, systems expert Ken Graham, and the L.A. Group planning consultants.

He still hasn’t decided on a formal name for this new enterprise yet.

On the town’s part, Police Chief Joseph Sinagra pointed out that he had worked with Lang during Woodstock ’94 while employed with another police agency, and read a letter from a Georgia sheriff’s office in support of CounterPoint. He also reported on a meeting held with MCP and Lang that included representatives from Diaz Ambulance, the county Department of Health, Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum, New York State Police, that was “very accommodating…. We don’t think anyone was here to bamboozle us.” He recommended that the Saugerties Town Board approve the permit.

Local police, State Police and the County Sheriff would only be responsible for traffic control in the gate area and maintaining order on the periphery of the site, according to Sinagra, with concert promoters picking up the costs. Security within the site would be maintained by the organizers, who will have a contingent of 250 to 300 security staff.

A ‘rejuvenating oasis’ with economic benefits

Town Board members talked about economic benefits from the proposed festival, and others like it, which they estimated being between $5 and $7 million dollars, what with 750 employees needing housing, non-camper hotel and motel visits, and other benefits.

“Our goal is to keep as much of it in the local economy as possible,” Fordin told those gathered. “CounterPoint is about building around a community. We promote activeness throughout the day, not just music and camping.”

Ticket prices for the multi-staged festival, with music running 12 to 14 hours a day, would start at about $150, Fordin said, and would not be more than $200.

“It’s an escape, a rejuvenating oasis in a busy world where people from all walks of life, backgrounds, jobs, and interests can come together to share a common love of music,” is how Fordin described CounterPoint in an interview with a music festival publication last summer. “It is a place where you can let go and enjoy life without a worry about what is happening outside of the festival grounds. A place where new friends are met and old friendships are cemented. A place where you realize that in the end we are all the same in so many ways and that our differences all make us beautiful. There is no real way to describe an event like this except FUN. Come, let loose, be safe, and a good time is guaranteed!”

Or as Lang put it in his own fashion: “It will be nice to get something rolling this summer. Finally.”

David Gordon contributed to this article.