- Consequence of sound
- Festival outlook
Following an inaugural edition which brought the likes of Jay-Z, Coldplay, and Tom Petty to Pemberton, British Columbia, the Pemberton Music Festival was put on hold in 2009 following a dispute over environmental concerns and sustainability of festival grounds. Organizers had hoped to return in 2010, however, it now appears that 2011 is a more likely scenario. That is if the three-day event does in fact resurrect at all.
According to the Whistler Question, local officials are continuing their discussions to facilitate a return of Pemberton, seeking to address outstanding items and questions that have apparently been raised by the festival’s producers, Live Nation. In addition to the question of preserving the agricultural capability of the lands, the two sides have been dealing with issues surrounding liquor sales, policing costs, conditions from CN Rail, and some local businesses wanting buyouts over the course of events.
As the Question goes on to note, Paul Edgington, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District’s Chief Administrative Officer, told lawmakers that because many of these aforementioned issues are still not resolved, a 2011 festival might be more likely than a 2010 event.
“I think things are still being planned to come back; it’s just a question, ‘Is it 2010 or 2011?’”
That idea comes “based on conversations I’ve had with [Live Nation’s president of talent for international music] Shane Bourbonnais, saying they would rather do it right than do it quickly, and they’d like to have all of the things that stand between them and profitability addressed in sufficient lead times that allow them to properly source and secure things like security and a host of other contracted services that they rely on,” Edgington said.
Emails from Consequence of Sound to Pemberton inquiring about the likelihood of the festival’s return in 2010 have not been returned. As always, we’ll keep you updated as more becomes known.
TAGGED AS: Live Nation, Pemberton Festival
comments (17)
BEST WEEKEND I HAVE had on Canadian soil…And I’ve lived in Vancouver for 10 years…..I hope there are many more…
How can you say that festival was a disgrace? That was one of the best weekends of my life as well. I agree with everything Pesha said. The only real problem I had was that the line to the Bacardi stage was too long so the only time I went was when we snuck in the back. Shower situation, I didnt stay at the fest camp site I camped in the yard of some locals so I dont no what that was really like there. I think the 2008 fest was a great success though there was a lot of people their everyone I met was having a great time, and as far as I know, there was no real big disaster that happened. I think it would be a major let down to the western canadian music scene to not have this great festival again, it needs to happen summer 2010.
here is another reason why Sasquatch kicks Pembertons behind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA8z7f7a2Pk@ JennyB and to others who applauded the festival. I do not dismiss your comment that I am/was negative. But so be it. As a Canadian that had to go down to the States for the last decade to see major headliners and good undercards at festivals, I was so stoked on there being a gorgeous fest right in our own Backyard. Then I attended. It was atrocious to see a festival put on by LiveNation(a company that has a pretty decent track record of putting on big fests)be so disorganized. I did enjoy the great scenery but that was about it. If you read my previous comments you would notice that i wasn’t mad at food/booze prices. They are always crazy expensive at fests? You know why? Cause 1. they want to make $$. But 2. the organizers don’t want a bunch of drunk heathens causing a mockery of their fest. Which is usually where security comes in from busting most of the booze smuuglers. Now, now i’m not against smuggling booze into a fest. But if there’s proper security they usually catch any obvious offenders inside/ and those trying to get in. Which weeds out (in my opinion) about 80% of the shitty idiot festival goers and makes the common fest quite enjoyable. None of this happened at Pemberton. On top of those issues, people that enjoyed the fest including @Mitch and @tree and @Pesha that commented on this thread they also stated the acknowledgement of long lines, lack of showers, not enough toilets and not enough Garbage bins.
You travel 6 hours south to a place just as majestic (the Gorge Ampetheatre) and doesn’t have one half of the lineups, more porta potties than you know what to do with and a semi contolled environment. I’m not saying this Pemberton can’t become a great fest, its just the people that did enjoy the first Pemberton should maybe expand your horizons a little bit to see that, that festival compared to other Live Nations events was truely a joke. And was (once again “in my opinion”) like something straight out of the dark ages.Some people are saying that this was a terrible festival, but I had one of the best weekends of my life. No, I’m not a druggie, a meth-head, or a Guido.
Yes. The line up for the dance tent was long. So we went somewhere else.
Yes. There was a lot of traffic, and we had to wait a long time to get to the campsite. Solution: We stayed on site.
Yes. It was dusty. So we became Pemberton Bandits.Anyone who knows how to camp would know how to make themselves comfortable up there. I only ate festival food once, because we brought our own food in a cooler. Bacon and eggs for breakfast and Ribs for dinner! I only bought 2 or 3 over priced beers all weekend because I’m clever and smuggled in my own booze.
Lets be honest tho. The festival expected over 40,000 people. Did you really think there wasn’t going to be garbage and long lines and drunk, annoying people? Really? We got to the festival grounds over an hour early if we were really keen on seeing a show.
The festival did need more staff, more toilets, more disposal places,and MORE SHOWERS (my biggest complaint was my own smell).
I just don’t understand how people can complain SO MUCH when you are surrounded by such gorgeous scenery and such great music.
Just be thankful it wasn’t like Woodstock ‘99. Now THAT would have sucked.
@ bobbyrisigliano ~ You may have your brains in tact… however, your Heart seems a little lacking. Shame on your judge-mental, negative attitude. I am in agreement though that Pemby Fest did leave much to be improved upon as far as organization goes, especially the environmental footprint left. It would be great to see this improved upon & have the festival held in this amazingly beautiful valley again!! My friends & I all had an amazing time… enjoying all the music & art, connecting with other fun-loving, like-minded people & celebrating life!! Peace!!
)z/ even though “that many drugs” is not my scene. I couldn’t agree more. And if they got hyper DJ’s all the shitty people would just ruin the atmosphere.
Shambhala is where is it at anyway!
tree. how was that fest worth all the lineups, or any of the other problems? I have attended over a dozen festivals in the NW including having gone to Coachella twice as well. And that was by far the worst fest in terms of organization, i’ve ever been to. The only people i know that enjoyed that fest were druggies, heathens, and Guido’s. Meaning the only people that had a good time had no brains, and like a fest where there is no structure. that’s not a fest at all? that’s called the dark ages. Attend a real fest and you’ll realize this….oh wait you have no brains probably. If you can explain to me how that fest was any good please do. Raping wasted girls and getting into fistfights with meatheads don’t count as reason for a good fest.
@yeahfontaine: well then don’t go, less wait for the rest of us! pemberton was amazing, easily worth the line-ups!
Pemberton 2011 or bust!
I like to remind everybody that the top 3 acts were…
NINE INCH NAILS in their first Lights in the Sky tour date and first in North America since mid 2006 (Im excluding the 2007 Hawaii dates)
Tom Petty
Coldplay (only North American festival appearance since X and Y)
Jay Z
countless other great bands like…
Tragically Hip
and one of the last 3 tour dates with the ORIGINAL Wolfmothergreat atmosphere, great festival…but I do agree they need to work some things out before returning….I would rather put on a ha;f decent festival in 2010 and work out the issues for an amazing festival in 2011 then have the festival die after one incarnation
pemberton shared some of the lolla acts. i’d say it was more competition for the north american vfests than sasquatch.
debaser while true, it seemed like Pemberton had a much stronger lineup, and both are LiveNation events. It seemed as though Pemberton stole lots of acts that year (2008).
Pemberton was a trainwreck. Mountains of garbage everywhere, half of the staff (security included) quit and walked offsite before the festival even started, waits to get to the camping areas were 8-12 hours in the hot sun with no toilet facilities, the dance tent was totally self-contained and only held about 1500 people at a time (4-5 hour waits to get in) etc, etc, etc. There is NO way they should be even considering this for 2010. They have SO much to fix before trying this shit again.
sasquatch and pemberton were months apart.
If this doesn’t happen then maybe Sasquatch will get some better bands?
