Terrapin Cancels Bridgeport Blues Festival and Summit on the Sound

[Todd]

Terrapin Presents has announced the cancellation of both the Bridgeport Blues Festival and Summit on the Sound. In a statement release today, owner Ken Hays had this to say: “While the buzz surrounding the events has been tremendous, Bridgeport Blues ticket sales simply do not mirror people\'s excitement about the show. So it is with great disappointment that I must announce the cancellation of both the Bridgeport Blues Festival and Summit on the Sound...For all credit card ticket orders for the Bridgeport Blues Festival and Summit on the Sound placed through Terrapin Presents, the purchaser may arrange a refund by notifying their credit card company and contesting the charge due to the cancellation of the event. Those who purchased tickets at outlets should return to the point of purchase for a full refund. GDTS Too will be returning all money orders.”

The Bridgeport Blues Festival was scheduled for August 30 – 31 at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, CT with artists such as BB King, Jeff Beck, James Brown and Chuck Berry slated to perform. Summit on the Sound was planned for September 13 – 14 at Seaside Park with Phil & Friends featuring John Scofield and Branford Marsalis.

To read the full statement, visit http://www.terrapinpresents.net.

[realisthis]

Crazy

[sunshine]

OH MY GOD! I CAN\'T BELIEVE THIS! WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING TO TERRIPIN!!!??? VERY VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED!  I don\'t even know what else to say

[Wolfman]

Hmmm...That\'s 4 Northeast fests cancelled this summer.  I think it\'s a combination of shitty economy and competition.  Obviously the economy sucks and gas prices prevent people from driving far.  Also, EVERY festival competes.  Bonnaroo in June competes with Berkfest in August, because there are so many fests now that you have to pick and choose.  You just can\'t do \'em all.  (Unless you deal drugs or make REALLY dank veggie burritos.)  It\'s not hard to see why Summit went splat.  By the time September rolls around, 1. Everyone has already blown thousands going to summer festivals and 2. A big chunk of the market is back in school.  There\'s just too much going on!

[Blackieshamps]

They\'ve finally done it.  Nobody wants to pay Terrapin\'s bullshit prices to see their terrible shows anymore.  Too bad.

[kindm's]

You know what man. These people are/ were a serious force in the northeast for a long time. It is easy to kick people when they are down. They threw killer festivals for many years and I personally enjoyed many of them. i even worked the last 4 years as a volunteer for them. The trend of festivals of this size has been to charge the 100+ since Bonnaroo did it in 02\'. Sure the line up IMHO wasn\'t as strong as years past but they still put on a great time for 4 days in upstate NY. Their festivals helped to launch and get much exposure for many local bands who currently draw very good crowds. I didn\'t always see eye to eye with them on everything but they threw my favorite festival ever year and now it is in jeopardy. I am sorry that you are too young to know what they have done for the scene. TTapes was one of the first to sell DATs and etc directly to tapers. Many of us get our stuff drop shipped from them all over the country for cut rate deals. Not to mention the many PB Fans who are currently now looking for work

[mattgilhuly]

Fuckin A right, man.  Most of the core Terrapin crew were there on tour late 70s early 80s  w/ the dead creating the culture that you probably take for granted today.  These are good people with the right motives.  Terrapin is the antithesis of your alternative, Clear Channel (read: Bonnaroo)who started by ruining your radio and are moving on to step 2, monopolize any band\'s chance to play in front of a large crowd and restrict your right to tape it.  If outfits like Terrapin and High Sierra and Gamelan go down, then you\'ll really be fucked.

But hey, you\'re entitled to your ignorant opinion.  Just recognize who\'s in it to make some magic and who\'s in it for a buck.

I\'m not as eloquent or even tempered as kindms, but I also have been a volunteer for the last 4 years and take it personally when you make light of my friends\' misfortune.  Punk ass bitch

[WALSH]

Let\'s not bring Bonnaroo into this that first weekend was MAGICAL...but a I do agree with Mike & Matt.  TTapes is a huge contributor to this scene and gave people a place to go to after Jerry died(other than Phish tour, whish at that time was not at all popular for Deadheads).  Sure prices have gone up but so have the prices for the bands that they dicovered.  Go check out the lineups for some of the past GOTV and figure out how much $$ you\'d have to spend to see all those bands Terrapin and Gamelan and HS made those bands what they are TODAY!!!

If you don\'t like the bands they have now don\'t go , but don\'t call Terrapin out as BULLSHIT, that ain\'t cool!!

[DocEllis70]

they probably overpaid a few bands and didnt make it up with ticket sales. could they have actually lost $$$ from GOTV??

[mattgilhuly]

Sorry about the crack at the end of my last post.  I was in a foul mood last night

[tiedyetoga]

All I know is that I want my money back. I don\'t understand why it is so hard to ask for it back.

[Blackieshamps]

Hey im sorry to whoever i offended in my few words about terrapin.  I just havent had the experience of seeing these good things that all you guys are talking about.  At summit a couple years ago when my friend got his fucking ass beat down and robbed while he was taking a piss by whatever kind of bikers those were doing security, terrapin crew would not help in anyway or get involved, we must have gone to 11 different people on crew.  its that kind of attitude that really hurts.  When security gets out of line, thats when the people who are running the event have to step in and do something. Yeah vibes 2000, and 2001 were a lot of fun but this year, i saw kids gettin their bracelets clipped and kicked out for vending grilled cheeses in the campgrounds.  now that just sucks, not everyone has enough money to buy 3 dollar slices of pizza after spending 200 dollars on a ticket.  

Whatever, wasnt trying to insult anyone and yea i am young but ive been goin to shows for years and i really just have not had the best experiences with terrapin.  You got me on the punk ass bitch though, you must know me.

[Overexjoesure]

^^^Oh man that story really sucks .^^

I dont know the whole festival thing really has gotten out of hand.  It seems to be more of a haven for dealers and rich kids looking to score.  I went to Adirondack this year and the scene just blew me away.  A real younger crowd full of rudeness.   I was offered every single drug ever by people who had no intent on enjoying the music.  Of coarse I think the bisco crowd contributed a lot to what I saw but either way festvals get reputations and loses all real authenticity of being a place to see awesome music.

As for Terrapin.... Well after Vibes 2001 I promised myself I\'d never give any money to Terrapin ever.  I rememver spending most of the weeking with Tim, Josh, Adrian, Ron, Jordan and Nicki, if I wanted to do that I\'d just go see them in Staven, rather than kick over $150.  They were unprepared for the weather, which really sucks because I came to see music instead of walking around in fecal mud.....

[WALSH]

Don\'t bring the Biscuits into this.  If you went to some shows and stopped listening to all the bunk stereotypes, you might realize that there are just as much if not more drugs in every scene other than the Biscuits.  Stop following what everyone else says and make up your own mind.  It goes with the music scene we are into.  I mean shit there was a dude that hit the floor at PB last night eyes rolling back in his head, I thought he was going to have to go to the hospital.  It happens in all bands scenes not just the Biscuits.

[mattgilhuly]

Yeah, that guy in toad\'s looked OK one minute then like he he had just spent 37 seconds in the ring with Tyson the next.  Does anybody know what combination he had going?  He kept coming back and dropping out again like a bad circuit.  I felt bad for him.