The Pemberton music festival has been scuttled for 2009.
Despite getting the go-ahead on the outdoor venue in November, promoters Live Nation finally revealed this week they just don’t have enough time to line up talent for the budding music festival.
The mega-concert company wasn’t able to secure the land through the Agricultural Land Commission until November, making it too late to “effectively book talent,” according to Canadian Press.
So?? Scale it back. I’m sure there’s lots of smaller acts that would attract a large festival crowd to bake (or freeze) at Pemberton again over the B.C. Day long weekend.
There are so many great independent Canadian bands out there. It’s practically a frigging musical renaissance, for crying out loud. Surely some of the best new music bands in the country could be lured to a picturesque, mountain-encircled B.C. town for a set at the festival’s second year.
Sounds to me like Live Nation doesn’t want to go through the bother of lining up smaller acts than the bands headlining the initial 2008 roster, which featured the likes of Coldplay, Jay-Z and Nine Inch Nails – all international acts.
Not enough money to be made on Canadian and non-top 40 talent, I guess.
Ditching plans for 2009 also makes me wonder how much money the festival actually made in its first year.
Despite traffic gridlock that lasted hours, dust, outrageous concession prices, overflowing port-o-potties and and other organizational fiascos, the festival attracted 40,000 attendees in its first year. And most said, enthusiastically, that they’d be back.
Oh well, Live Nation’s announcement certainly gives organizers of another budding summer music festival in the area cause for celebration. The Whistler Music Festival also debuted last summer (July 19-20… anybody?), but despite an impressive roster of performers from Bedouin Soundclash, Broken Social Scene to the decidedly international Elvis Costello it was completely overshadowed in the lead up to Pemberton the following week.
Looks like Aug. 29 and 30, 2009 is your summer to shine, people of Whistler. And enjoy it while it lasts. Live Nation has been given the rights to use the land in Pemberton for another nine years. They’re promising to bring back the (worthwhile) music in 2010.
You blow.
Live Nation is not some socialist experiment. You buy a ticket or stay home. You want Indie go find another festival to make yourself happy. You want Canadian talent go to folkfest or granville island. You wonder how much money Live Nation made. Why? If you knew what would be your next pompous question. You really need to re-join the NDP so you can feel at home again, spending other peoples money better than they could spend it themeselves.