Live Nation has announced the acquisition of an interest in Levitate Music and Arts festival, a homegrown event located in Marshfield on the coast of Massachusetts, adding to its growing portfolio in the region.

The move follows multiple festival acquisitions for Live Nation so far this year including Tons of Rock in Norway and Finnish urban festival Blockfest.

Co-founded in 2013 by Levitate Surf Shop owners Daniel and Jessica Hassett, in partnership with Ineffable Music’s Thomas Cussins, Levitate has grown from a small celebration of local artists into a multi-day, 30,000-capacity event.

The community-centric festival features roots, reggae, folk rock and funk music.

“Dan, Jess and their community have poured their hearts and souls into creating Levitate music festival and we look forward to working with them to build this truly unique experience,” says Don Law, president of Live Nation New England.

“We look forward to connecting even more fans and artists through this boutique festival experience”

“They have exceptional instincts in crafting a remarkable event for their audience and we look forward to connecting even more fans and artists through this boutique festival experience,” adds Law.

“From the start we’ve strived not only to bring our community together, but also to share music and art with the world here in our own backyard,” comment the festival co-founders.

“We’ve admired and been friendly with Don and his staff at the New England Live Nation office for years. We’re honoured to now have the opportunity to work alongside them officially as we work together to make Levitate the most unique experiential music and arts event on the East Coast,” say the Hassetts.

Levitate invites a number of nonprofit partners to attend each year and spread awareness for their cause. The festival donates US$1 from each ticket to youth development organisation the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, Massachusetts.

The seventh edition of Levitate festival takes place this year from 12 to 14 July.

Live Nation’s global portfolio of more than 100 festivals includes Bottle Rock Napa Valley, Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Reading, Leeds and Electric Daisy Carnival.

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Live Nation has acquired an interest in New England summer concert venue Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion.

The 9,000-seat amphitheatre, formerly known as Meadowbrook, is located on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee in Gilford, New Hampshire. Artists who visited the venue in 2017 include Bryan Adams, Chris Stapleton, Luke Bryan, John Mellencamp, Third Eye Blind and Florida Georgia Line.

As part of the acquisition, the multi-award-winning venue – named best music venue by the Academy of Country Music and venue of the year by the Country Music Association – will integrate its primary ticketing with Ticketmaster. Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion’s executive team, led by president Robert ‘RJ’ Harding and his wife, Bridget, will continue to oversee the venue’s day-to-day operations.

“We look forward to helping grow an already outstanding business”

“We are thrilled to add the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion to our venue portfolio, and to welcome RJ, Bridget and their team to the Live Nation family,” says Don Law, president of Live Nation New England.

“The Pavilion is a very unique and special venue, and we look forward to helping grow an already outstanding business to bring the people of New England a world-class entertainment line-up for many years to come.”

Adds Harding: “Our focus over the past 22 years has been cultivating a unique concert experience here at Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, and we are extremely excited to advance that objective with a global partner like Live Nation.”

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