This week’s Thursday “Live and Otherwise” words of wisdom were supposed to be concerned with taking the car out on the open road and enjoying a relatively inexpensive music festival/street fair called Sunset Junction, located a mere six hours away in the California metropolis of Los Angeles.
That is until I feasted my eyes on Monday’s article from the L.A Times music blog Pop & Hiss. "Sunset Junction permits denied for 2011," the unobtrusive headline stated. Me? I felt more shock akin to someone having just popped a balloon in my ear. Turns out that the Sunset Junction organizers were $400,000 in debt from fees built up throughout previous year’s festival permits. However, concert-goers don’t tighten that noose around your weekend plans yet. The Los Angeles Board of Public Works has agreed, according to the L.A times, that if Sunset can raise at least $114,000 to cover this year’s fees, they will grant the permit.
The following day, another article posted by the Times stated that Sunset raised the money. At this point, the roller coaster of emotions going through my mind was giving me a headache. And considering me and my amigos had bought advance tickets, I kind of wanted to know if I was going to slighted forty bucks or not. Money aside, really I was just disappointed about missing out on a potentially great show. I mean where else would I be able to see lil Jon and Hanson performing at the same event? Eclectic line up indeed.
It got me to thinking–I never realize the important legalities needed in order for a large scale event to succeed. The last thing I am thinking when I purchase tickets for a music festival is the threat of permits being denied. I shudder to think of the riots that would ensue if the Coachella Music Festival ever met the same fate. But as for the fate of this weekend, that lies far from certain. Hope for the best is what I say.
Here’s a video of last year’s festival to give you a prelude of what is (or may not) come to pass. Enjoy this cool video dedicated to it:
Editor's note: Sunset Junction was officially canceled.
