The music festival scene is in a constant state of flux. For every new and shiny fest, it seems we lose a fan favorite or a promising debut finds itself out of cash. In the MFW Deadpool, we take a look at the festival graveyard and predict who will rise from the dead.
The leaves are changing colors, the air crisp with the hint of frost, and Starbucks is pushing their formerly pumpkin-less Pumpkin Spice Latte. Fall has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere, and while the autumnal festival season is stuffed like a turkey with fests around the world, there exists, as always, a few new gaps in the calendar.
Stereosonic Festival
Australian Tour
Year Started: 2007
Reason For Cancellation: Despite a troubled history of overdoses and overpolicing, the ultimate demise of Stereosonic appears to be from the monetary woes of bankrupt owners SFX. Former CEO and accomplished two-handed masturbater, Robert Sillerman, led his company into a free-fall financial disaster. Smart money is that this won’t be the last SFX festival that ends up on the MFW Deadpool.
Chance of a Return: Much like SFX’s stock price, the chance of a Stereosonic revival is a 0 out of 10.
Decibel Festival
Seattle, Washington, USA
Year Started: 2004
Reason for Cancellation: The founder, Sean Patrick Horton, moved to Los Angeles to go work for Red Bull. He left a fairly detailed message on the official website including “know that Decibel as an organization will continue and this is temporary and much needed break.”
Odds of a Return: There’s still a whole team left in Seattle and 2015 was their largest edition yet. Still, losing a founder can cripple a fest which is why we’re going an even-Steven 5 out of 10 on a comeback.
Hard Day of the Dead
Southern California, USA
Year Started: 2009
Reason for Cancellation: Since it was never technically announced, it was never cancelled. Or at least that’s the excuse that came from organizers. Even though no reason was officially stated, it didn’t stop the LA Times from linking the cancelled fest to a “summer of deaths”, part of their year long bashing of the Los Angeles EDM scene.
Odds of a Return: This festival will remain buried, if only for the reason that EDM fests should stay far away from using the world “dead” in any context. 0 out of 10.
Fun Fun Fun Fest
Austin, Texas, USA
Year Started: 2006
Reason for Cancellation: Sounds like the new owners of Fun Fun Fun Fest, who just acquired the festival in May are taking a year off to regroup.
Odds of a Return: 9 out of 10. The Fun Fun Fun Fest brand is strong, and traditionally puts out one of the best lineups of the year. According to the CEO of the new company: “Beginning in 2017, Fun Fun Fun Festival will move to Halloween weekend.”
Moonstone Festival
Orlando, Florida, USA
Year Started: N/A
Reason for Cancellation: The KISS fronted Moonstone was first slated for spring of 2016 before a series of cyber-attacks forced them to push back to the fall. Then at the end of July, they had to make a second announcement that they were pushing back again to spring of 2017.
Odds of a Return: Under ordinary circumstances, your MFW Deadpool columnist would call this a dead festival, but Moonstone’s dogged determination to hold a classic rock festival in Orlando no matter the odds earns this fest an underdog hope of 3 out 10.