Ever since the Indy races were cancelled at Watkins Glen International for the 4th of July weekend rumors have been flying that Phish is looking to book a festival at the race track in upstate NY.

After a relatively low turnout at Festival 8 on the west coast in 2009 Phish is looking to bring the fest back to the northeast in 2011.

Sources close to the situation in Watkins Glen have reported to us that a contract has been signed for a Phish only festival July 4th weekend at Watkins Glen International.

We’re told tickets will be $200 and include camping for the entire weekend and will be capped at 60,000. There will be 8 sets total happening on Friday, Saturday & Sunday.

Camping will be allowed starting on Thursday. Re-entry will be allowed to racetrack throughout the weekend. This will be a Phish festival with no other bands. Our source tells us we can expect an official announcement sometime in March.

If you would like to read more about this story you can read our interview with ScottyB over at Hidden Track.

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What intrigues me the most about this festival is the venue and historically what this means for Phish. The Watkins Glen race track hasn’t seen a music festival of this magnitude since it hosted Summer Jam in 1973 with The Band, The Allman Brothers, & The Grateful Dead. That event drew over 600,000 fans and shut down roadways for miles.

My home town is in Corning, NY just 15 miles south of Watkins Glen. My father grew up in the area in the late 60’s & early 70’s attended both Woodstock & Summer Jam. I’m excited by the thought of being able to return to the concert fields where my parents, aunts & uncles and jammed out over 35 years ago.

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