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Woodstock Organizers Imagine Million-Person Music Festival in Toronto

After Woodstock '99 exploded into fiery riots, the hippie era seemed well and truly over. Last year's 40th anniversary concert was cancelled when organizers couldn't score sponsors. But the Age of Aquarius, led by original Woodstock co-promoter Artie Kornfeld, is staging a comeback in Toronto this summer with the Imagine Music & Arts Festival, a massive charity concert organizers described to Torontoist as "the largest event in the forty years since Woodstock."

Kornfeld, who notably didn't participate in the '94 and '99 revivals, is hitching his Woodstock wagon to the train of socially-conscious Montreal artist David Kam who wanted to add a musical component to the Earthship Summit, his upcoming environmental event coinciding with the G20 summit in Toronto in late June.

Initially, Imagine was also going to run concurrently with the G20, but the police were too taxed with protecting world leaders to man the gates at a music festival. So the fest has been pushed back to July 10 and 11 and Kornfeld expects over a million "dreamers" to attend and is hoping to broadcast the awareness-raising concert to a worldwide audience of 300 million.

The concert will take place in Downsview Park, which previously held 450,000 people for 2003's SARSstock concert featuring Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Rush, Flaming Lips and Justin Timberlake. (The previous year 800,000 squeezed onto the former Air Force base to see Pope John Paul).

Organizers have already reduced their ambitious plans to two days from the "three days of peace and music" that marked previous Woodstocks. Though no acts have been confirmed, there are reportedly ongoing discussions with Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, Foo Fighters and Lady Gaga. Major headliners, prices and other details are expected to be revealed in mid-March.

Though the idea of changing the world through music may seem dated, Kornfield told the Globe&Mail, "The world is now in an even deeper position than the Cold War and Vietnam. There's trouble in every country...this is a chance to give hope, and who'll do it if not the old Woodstockers?"

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sunstar

1 million people gathering,10 million dollar cash for the charity=179 tickets

The reality and dream as far as from the earth to the moon.

Kam himself knows about it,but Kam never stop making big fake news.10 words comes our from kam's mouth,9 words is lie

a real monster...

March 17 2011 at 11:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mini madoff

Total sold 179 tickets,that's it. Kam planed this big lie long time ago,Imagine Concert got cancelled with Kam's bad name,But poeple might never know Kam actually receive a huge package from this.

2 million dollars guitar-Who made by Jim Warren,willing to donate to Chrity event.Now packed by Kam.

over 30 people whom worked for Kam for over one year,no one receive a penny pay check from Kam.

Where is Kam? He still live in Montreal with his mother?

Bring Kam to the Civil court? Well,Kam filed bankruptcy 10 years ago,Kam lost many law suit in civil Court,Kam own money for the bank.landlord.his business partner,his clints,his employee....in the END,Kam just file bankrupcy and hide all his money in some Secret Island...

That's why Kam still runs his 8 empty Company,no income,no address,no pay roll,...but in good living for his previous dirty money.

What are we going to do?

Only way is report this mini madoff--David Kam to the Police as a fraud. before Kam steal more money from good people.

November 26 2010 at 11:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
music woman

MONOPOLY WINS AGAIN!

I work for the biggest concert and ticketing company who you all love. We put on great events you all love.

We knew Artie Kornfeld was on the verge of creating another Woodstock 1969 in Toronto and Korea, but without working with us masters of the universe.

How we prevented Imagine and Korea from happening is a classical case of warfare. We team up with his old business partner and threaten legal actions, made Artie jump ship from the festivals by dividing and conquer, blocked headliners and artists from playing at Imagine, convinced artist agents to not work with the festivals, spread false rumors and negative press about the festival, got artist managers to slam Imagine, convince media out lets not to carry the story, and so many other tactics you cannot even imagine.

Why we do this for a charity event? What else, but to keep you suckers paying through the nose for $300 concert tickets. In the end it is all business. We are not the evil empire as most people make us out to be. People love us.

We have nothing against Artie or the Imagine organizers. This is all about business and money. Imagine all the people. Imagine no more, since the people lost. It is back to reality.

August 29 2010 at 12:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jame walker

dose anyone knows d kam is an artist? all the web seem posted by kam himself.

in fact,kam is a smart loser in montreal civil court,even lost many lawsuit,end without paying a penny by simply file bankruptcy.victim including his childhood friend.

seem like a montreal street club man has a big plan,millions people gathering or another madoff scam?

June 30 2010 at 2:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JIMMY ROGGERS

Yeah Artie,go for it !!!
We are looking forward to support you !!!
JIMMY ROGGERS BAND

May 09 2010 at 7:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Stephanie

Well they say that the lineup will be out Mid March and its now March 23.. Where is this lineup that said would be up by now.....

March 23 2010 at 4:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Stephanie L

I hope this is a go. I will be there:)

March 09 2010 at 1:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Woodstock

Artie is bringin' back the spirit of the Woodstock nation! Can't wait for this one.. One million strong in Toronto! Thank you Artie Kornfeld!

February 24 2010 at 8:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Patrick Colucci

I was at the original in 69 and I would not miss this event for all the money in the world! There is only one authentic person who could pull this off - Artie Kornfeld "The Father of Woodstock". Imagine 1,000,001 WODSTOCK DREAMERS because I Will be there!
Peace and Love,
Pat Colucci ,
Original Woodstocker
subject of
Dateline NBC Special "Back to Woodstock"
author of
"The Closer's Song"

February 24 2010 at 5:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Patrick Colucci's comment
Flowergirl (Shelli Blair)

RIGHT ON

February 24 2010 at 7:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
GOG & MAGOG

This does not embody a spirit of a free people today. Pearl Jam? Gaga? Foo Fighters? Not only do these artists not have anything worthwhile to say, they do not stand for anything worth fighting for. Kornfeld may have good intentions, but at the end of the day, it is still about the cash and these people don't really care about John Lenon's "Imagine" dream.

February 24 2010 at 11:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to GOG & MAGOG's comment
EVENFLOW

I think it's funny that you think Pearl Jam has nothing worthwhile to say and that they do not stand for anything worth fighting for. Spend 30 seconds reviewing their website to see the charity work they do everyday. They were probably the biggest supporters of "rock the vote" and hard critics of the war and G.W. Bush. They also rock out with Neil Young and The Who all the time. They are also the only artists to take on Ticketmaster about ticket pricing, so they're not "about the cash". And to be honest, there should be more relevant bands at this show, that speak for today's generation which, frankly, nobody that was at the original woodstock would honestly be able to comment on. If the concert was the same as Woodstock, all we'd hear from the original concert goers would be how they "did it first". Oh yeah, and I hope I didn't "imagine" it, but there's 2 "n"'s in Lennon.

February 24 2010 at 3:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
GOG & MAGOG

1. You have a good point about PJ, but when they're encouraging people to vote I believe they have nothing worthwhile to say. By doing so, they are supporting the system and building the youth's faith in it. Why not talk about the rigging of elections which has been proven in other countries with almost identical voting systems and machines and doing more than just scratching the surface about the war in Iraq.
2. I NEVER said PJ was all about the cash, although I do believe they are. Re-read the comment, smart guy. Taking on Ticketmaster was a huge PR SCHEME that worked wonderfully in their favor and created many loyal followers. Like a $2 service charge is going to make a big difference on a $50 seat - yea right! Ticketmaster won this case with ease. PJ tickets still cost over $100. They don't have much to say about that do they?
4. You asked me to spend 30 seconds on their website and I did. I may have well browsed a NY Times or USA Today.
3. You are a pesky commentator - the Jon Lenin stab was a cheap shot.

February 24 2010 at 4:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply