Even before the Woodstock Music and Art Fair became the most famous festival in music history, it was a symbol.

In 1969, the four-day gathering acted as a statement against the political turmoil that divided the nation, racism, sexism and global conflict. Fifty years later, such a message remains relevant.

“There is so much going on right now,” rap artist Common said, “I think one of the best ways we can combat the ignorance, the divisiveness, the hatred, is to go out there and push love, express love and practice love — and it definitely comes through, that love comes through in Woodstock.”

Common will be one of the artists delivering that message in August, along with Jay-Z, Miley Cyrus, The Killers and others, at Woodstock 50.

The 50th anniversary celebration is set for Aug. 16-18 in Watkins Glen. Tickets will go on sale April 22, according the official site, Woodstock.com, though pricing is not yet available.

Woodstock 2019: Who will play, how to get tickets and what to know

The list of performers spans multiple generations and musical styles. On the same night, Chance the Rapper, Dead & Company, Greta Van Fleet and The Black Keys will all take the stage.

The original Woodstock, held Aug. 15-18, 1969, is considered by many to be the crowning achievement of the 1960s counterculture. And, in music circles, it carries a mystique unlike any other concert.

“To be able to be connected to Woodstock in any shape, form or fashion now, for me, is one of the greatest honors that I’ve had as an artist, as a human being, as a musician, because it actually is bigger than the music,” Common said, “even though we know the music is what drives and connects us all and brings us all together and it’s that language that many say is from the divine.”

Common spoke Tuesday night at Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village, moments before the lineup for the Woodstock 50 festival was announced by Ulster County resident Michael Lang, the co-producer and co-founder of the 1969 Woodstock festival.

Lang's announcement unleashes a heightened degree of anticipation for the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, the buzz for which has been building for months.

He has previously said that he hopes to harness what he called the "essence" of Woodstock with the anniversary concert. That includes raising awareness of social activism.

Underscoring Lang's vision for Woodstock was the presence at Tuesday night's invitation-only announcement of Andy Bernstein, executive director of HeadCount, an organization that stages voter registration drives at concerts.

HeadCount is one of multiple nonprofits with which Woodstock 50 is partnering.

March For Our Lives, founded by students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida to end gun violence; and the Seva Foundation,a global eye organization that fosters eye care while working to restore sight and prevent blindness, are also partnering with Woodstock 50.

"We're about something," Lang said of his festival. "We're about the issues that affect people's lives."

He noted the similarities between the nation in 1969 and the nation now, with a divided electorate, environmental degradation and the pursuit of equality by women and people of color.

"It's kind of spooky how similar things are," Lang said.

Lineup of performers

Day 1, Aug. 16: The Killers, Miley Cyrus, Santana, The Lumineers, The Raconteurs, Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, John Fogerty, Run the Jewels, The Head and the Heart, Maggie Rogers, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Bishop Briggs, Anderson East, Akon, Princess Nokia, John Sebastian, Melanie, Grandson, Fever 333, Dorothy, Flora Cash, Larkin Poe, Brian Cadd and Ninet Tayeb.

Day 2, Aug. 17: Dead & Company, Chance the Rapper, The Black Keys, Sturgill Simpson, Greta Van Fleet, Portugal, The Man, Leon Bridges, Gary Clark Jr., Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, David Crosby and Friends, Dawes, Margo Price, Nahko and Medicine for the People, India.Arie, Jade Bird, Country Joe McDonald, Rival Sons, Emily King, Soccer Mommy, Sir, Taylor Bennett, Amy Helm, Courtney Hadwin, Pearl, John-Robert and IAMDDB,

Day 3, Aug. 18: Jay-Z, Imagine Dragons, Halsey, Cage the Elephant, Brandi Carlile, Janelle Monae, Young the Giant, Courtney Barnett, Common, Vince Staples, Judah and the Lion, Earl Sweatshirt, Boygenius, Reignwolf, The Zombies, Canned Heat, Hot Tuna, Pussy Riot, Cherry Glazerr, Leven Kali, The Marcus King Band, Victory, Hollis Brown, John Craigie, Amigo the Devil and Liz Brasher.

History, present meet

The Woodstock Music and Art Fair in August 1969 attracted hundreds of thousands of people to Bethel, Sullivan County. Musical acts such as Richie Havens, The Who and Janis Joplin delivered landmark performances during the event.

Fogerty, who played Woodstock in 1969 with Creedence Clearwater Revival, was also on hand for Tuesday's announcement.

The Hudson Valley will be well represented at Woodstock 50, with Town of Woodstock residents Amy Helm and John Sebastian scheduled to perform.

Helm's father, Levon Helm, played at Woodstock in 1969 with The Band. And Sebastian performed solo at the historic festival.

In addition to Woodstock 50, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, which sits on the original Woodstock site, will celebrate the anniversary weekend with performances by Ringo Starr, Arlo Guthrie, Edgar Winter, Carlos Santana and the Doobie Brothers.

Guthrie, Winter and Santana played Woodstock in 1969.

The setting of Tuesday night's event was quite appropriate. Electric Lady Studios was opened years ago by the late guitarist Jimi Hendrix, who delivered a show-stopping performance to close Woodstock. Electric Lady Studios was designed by Highland resident John Storyk.

Asked what he hoped fans take home from Woodstock 50, Lang during the announcement said he hopes they leave energized and inspired to infuse activism into their daily lives.

And, he continued, "Some ability and some motivation to get involved in the issues and to really take responsibility for this world that all of us share."

John W. Barry: jobarry@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4822, Twitter: @JohnBarryPoJo