Music Festival Put Off Until Further Notice

MASSENA - A two-day outdoor rock music festival that was scheduled for September has been postponed until further notice, according to event organizers.

The inaugural 45th Parallel Music Festival had been planned for Sept. 10 and 11 on Barnhart Island, but now those dates have been scrubbed.

Travis P. MacDonald, owner of event promotion firm JLM Entertainment, said this year's event was cancelled due to poor advance ticket sales and a lack of sponsors, but he said organizers are now looking to host a similar event next year.

“This is a disappointment to us all but is in the best interest of all involved. We can assure you that it’s nothing like the last festival that was attempted here a few years ago. In fact, trying to prove that, along with gaining the community support and trust back has been our biggest hurdle,” he said.

MacDonald pointed out festivals and concerts all over the world are being cancelled due to poor ticket sales, largely in part of a poor economy. Organizers remain confident, he said, that a festival of this magnitude can be successful in this area, which has been a struggle for others in the past.

“We believe that this area needs something like this, to not only give the people around something to do, but to boost tourism and the economy as well. But in order for this to happen, we need cooperation from everyone involved, sponsors included,” according to MacDonald.

“We want to ensure that everything is in order and done right, to ensure its success for years to come. We still have the support and understanding from all bands, who are still eager to entertain this community,” he added.

Organizers had suggested the festival could draw thousands of people to the area to shop at local stores, eat at local restaurants and stay at local hotels and campgrounds.

Mr. MacDonald had booked bands like Everclear, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Sabbatical and The Alternate Routes for the show, which was to feature two days of music, food, fireworks, helicopter rides and other fun, including a special surprise performance.

For more information or if you would like to become a sponsor, email travis@45thparallelmusicfestival.com