Alienstock creator cancels Area 51 event

The creator of the Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us Facebook event and subsequent spin-off music festival Alienstock has stepped away from the event, which was due to take place in Rachel, Nevada (population ~50) from 20 to 22 September 2019.

Organisers are instead teaming up with the one-day Bud Light Area 51 Celebration, taking place on 19 September at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center (2,500- to 11,000-cap.).

The cancellation came shortly after organisers announced Alienstock’s line-up, which featured Boots Electric – the solo project of Eagles of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes –, Willy Savage and alien-costumed trio Brothers of Alien Rock.

“Due to the lack of infrastructure, poor planning, risk management and blatant disregard for the safety of the expected 10,000-plus Alienstock attendees, we decided to pull the plug on the festival,” reads a post on the festival’s website.

“We foresee a possible humanitarian disaster in the works, and we can’t participate in any capacity at this point.”

“Due to the lack of infrastructure, poor planning, risk management and blatant disregard for the safety of the expected 10,000-plus Alienstock attendees, we decided to pull the plug on the festival”

Storm Area 51 creator Matty Roberts, who was organising the festival along with event producer Frank DiMaggio, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the cancellation of Alienstock came as a “fantastic relief” following a build up of “concerns” in the run up to the event.

Fans have expressed disappointment on the Area 51 celebration page, which numbers 440 attendees compared to Storm Area 51’s two million, with one user writing: “Alienstock canceled [sic]… no more desert party… what a disappointment… now it’s [a] one day thing in Vegas on a THURSDAY!? I took vacay days off for [this] c’mon at least let it be a Friday.”

Roberts places the blame on permit holder Connie West, the owner of Rachel’s Little A’Le’Inn who reportedly failed to supply the event organisers with “contracts, proof of deposits or any paper proof of anything” that she claimed to have secured for the festival.

In turn, West claims Roberts and DiMaggio have “broke[n] the intent”, stating she intends to take legal action.

An announcement on the official Rachel, Nevada website states that a “scaled down event” is still being planned for the Little A’Le’Inn. However, the site warns that the event “will be rather disappointing”, with expected attendance of “a few hundred at best”.

Town officials had previously voiced opposition to Alienstock, warning that locals would “step up to protect their property” from festivalgoers.

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