Confirming rumors flying around the internet, organizers have announced the cancellation of Hellfest. The statement reads as such:
Due to circumstances beyond our control, Hellfest has been cancelled. After a full day in court in Burlington County, NJ, Hellfest was unable to meet unreasonable demands brought to Hellfest's attention by the Sovereign Bank Arena on August 16, 2005 at 6:21 PM, and to be met by August 17, 2005 at 7:00 AM. Actions were taken and Hellfest had an injunction filed by noon on August 17, 2005, but was overruled by the judge.We send our deepest apologies out to the fans and everyone who was involved with the event and want you to be aware that legal action is being taken. For ticket refunds please contact the Sovereign Bank Arena box office.
More information to come.
In the wake of the fest's cancellation, many smaller shows will be popping up all over the Eastern Seaboard. A message-board thread has been started for announcing replacement shows which will include Lifetime, Coalesce, 108, the Bouncing Souls, Unearth, Silverstein, Stretch Arm Strong, Good Clean Fun, Champion and many others.
The Trentonian has posted some more information on the reasons for the show's cancellation. According to the story:
Organizers took out a $1 million injury policy, that included death, and another million for property damage [but] the venue required Hellfest organizers to seek out an "A8 rated" insurance company, but that was never done.
The rating of an insurance company is an independent assessment of whether the insurer can pay out claims, and while the Hellfest organizers contend that the rating of the insurance company was not stipulated in the contract, the court sided with the venue and the Hellfest crew was escorted off the property by police.
Currently, the following have been announced:
| Date | City | Venue | With | August 19, 2005 | Philadelphia, PA | The Trocadero | Lifetime, special guests TBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 19, 2005 | New Brunswick, NJ | Court Tavern | Lifetime, Chris Batten & The Woods - 21+ show, late show(?) |
| August 19, 2005 | Philadelphia, PA | First Unitarian Church | Coalesce, Turmoil, Cursed, All Else Failed |
| August 19, 2005 | Sayreville, NJ | Starland Ballroom | Unearth, Chimaira, God Forbid, Madball, Six Feet Under, Nora, The Banner, If Hope Dies |
| August 20, 2005 | Bound Brook, NJ | Hamilton St. Cafe | Spitalfield, Gym Class Heroes, Hometown Anthem, Cameron, more TBA - Matinee Show |
| August 20, 2005 | Philadelphia, PA | The Trocadero | Throwdown, Turmoil, Most Precious Blood, The Red Chord, Remembering Never, The Agony Scene, Scars Of Tomorrow, Gym Class Heroes, Necktie, The Warriors - Matinee Show |
| August 20, 2005 | Taunton, MA | The Web Cafe | 100 Demons, Death Before Dishonor, Colin Of Arabia, Donnybrook, Dying For It, 40 Second Love Story |
| August 20, 2005 | Philadelphia, PA | First Unitarian Church | 108, Champion, Good Clean Fun, Outbreak - Matinee Show |
| August 20, 2005 | Philadelphia, PA | Starlight Ballroom | Lifetime, 108 - SOLD OUT |
| August 21, 2005 | Philadelphia, PA | The Trocadero | Rise Against, From Autumn To Ashes, Norma Jean, Emery, Comeback Kid, more TBA - Matinee Show |
| August 21, 2005 | Asbury Park, NJ | The Stone Pony | Lifetime, The Bouncing Souls, The Loved Ones |
| August 21, 2005 | Hackettstown, NJ | The Hackettstown Skate Park | WhattheHellfest: Dead to Fall, Ion Dissonance, Nodes of Ranvier, This is Hell, Animosity, Life In Pictures, Embrace The End, The Concubine, Last Perfection, The Burning Season, Stray from the Path, Seventh Star, The Warriors, Rocking Back & Forth to Create the Illusion of Satisfaction, The Mayflower Blueprint, Fall From Apathy, Label the Traitor, The Messiah Complex, Set Your Goals |
| August 21, 2005 | Montclair, NJ | Bloomfield Ave Cafe | Ensign, Champion, Outbreak, Betrayed, This Is Hell, FC5 - Matinee Show |
| August 21, 2005 | Montclair, NJ | Bloomfield Ave Cafe | Remembering Never, The Red Chord, Turmoil, Sinai Beach, Animosity |
| August 21, 2005 | Lemoyne, PA | The Champion Ship | Champion, Modern Life Is War, Betrayed, The Trade |
| August 21, 2005 | Randolph, NJ | Obsessions | Silverstein, Stretch Arm Strong, Haste The Day, Evergreen Terrace, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Roses Are Red, Kane Hodder |
| August 21, 2005 | Long Island, NY | TBA | Good Clean Fun |
We'll bring you more when we hear of them.
UPDATE, 4:41 a.m.: Lifetime drummer Scott Golley has gotten in touch with Punknews.org, writing the following:
[Lifetime] will play this weekend. as of 8:00 pm i was not sure when but we are working on playing as many shows as we can this weekend. i'm really sorry for all the people who spent a lot of money on this and i will post show info as soon as i know. once again…i'm really sorry things went so bad. we were blindsided by this as well.