Long-running EDM fest cancelled due to wildfires
Insomniac Events’ longest-running festival, Nocturnal Wonderland, has been cancelled due to the fast-growing wildfires in California, US.
The electronic music-focused camping festival, which was launched in 1995, was scheduled to be held this weekend (14-15 September) at Glen Helen Regional Park in San Bernardino.
Acts booked to appear included Kaskade, RL Grime, San Holo, Jesse Brooks, Discovery Project, Apashe, Airglo and Jessica Audiffred, but the event will no longer go ahead.
“While Nocturnal Wonderland was cleared to move forward at the time of our last update, we are saddened to inform you that new fires in the San Bernardino area have ignited over the past 36 hours and are now approaching the Glen Helen Amphitheater,” says a statement from the festival.
“After further discussions with local authorities, due to the impact of the fires surrounding the venue, we will be unable to proceed with Nocturnal Wonderland”
“The health and safety of festival attendees and staff is our highest priority. After further discussions with local authorities, due to the impact of the fires surrounding the venue, we will be unable to proceed with Nocturnal Wonderland.”
Currently, there are 16 active wildfires in California that have burned 613,819 acres.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the fires throughout San Bernardino and Southern California,” adds the event. “We understand the importance of ensuring that local resources are fully dedicated to managing the fires and protecting the surrounding communities.
“In the coming days, we will share more information on how our dance music community can come together to support and give back to the courageous firefighters and those displaced or affected by the fires.”
Last Sunday, a Vance Joy concert at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl was called off following a heat-related power outage, as the Californian city battled extreme heat of up to 104°F (40°C).
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Canada’s Kimichi Festival cancelled due to wildfires
The first-ever Kimchi Festival Canada, set to be held next weekend, has been cancelled.
The two-day event was due to take place at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, from 23 to 24 June.
The Live Nation-promoted festival was set to include performances by Billlie, Jamie Park, Xdinary Heroes, Gukjeondan, VIVIZ, ONEUS, ex-Wonder Girls member Sunye, DJ Flash Finger, Cheetah and 6band.
However, the organisers announced on 14 June that the festival will no longer be moving ahead due to ongoing wildfires in the country.
“The last few days have been difficult,” the organiser said in a statement on Instagram. “We have had many meetings with our production team and the idol agencies about the matter of the festival and the safety of the public and idols.
This year marks an unprecedented wildfire season in Canada
“Canada is currently experiencing numerous natural disasters, reportedly the worst in the last 100 years,” they added. “As the festival was to celebrate the 60th anniversary of unity between Canada and South Korea, and the problems that are currently happening in Canada, it is not the proper time to host the festival.
“We are sad to report that the decision is to cancel the event at this time,” the organisers continued. They added that they have “already informed Ticketmaster to return all tickets that have been sold as soon as possible”.
In a separate comment under the post, the organisers added that they will “will look at rescheduling as well as a different venue” for the 2023 Kimchi Festival Canada. “Again this is not what we were expecting nor what we wished for. This has been a hard loss for all involved.”
This year marks an unprecedented wildfire season in Canada, which has forced tens of thousands of its residents to evacuate.
Last week, the east coast of the US was affected by the smoky conditions from fires sweeping Quebec, many of which were deemed “out of control”.
As a result, concerts, broadway performances, sports games, Pride events and flights were cancelled.
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Chris Stapleton NY gig cancelled due to “hazardous” smog
A Chris Stapleton concert was called off due to “hazardous” air quality levels in New York caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires.
Broadway performances, sports games, Pride events and flights were also cancelled in recent days due to the polluting haze spreading across the US east coast.
Stapleton was due to perform for 17,000 people at St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview in Syracuse on Thursday (8 June) but late Wednesday, the American singer issued a statement postponing the outdoor concert.
“Due to the ongoing air conditions in the greater Syracuse area, tomorrow night’s show at @StJosephsAmp will be rescheduled. All previously purchased tickets for the original date will be honoured for the new date. We expect to have an update by mid-day June 9th.”
There had been a question mark over whether The Governors Ball NYC could take place this weekend in Flushing Meadows Corona Park but organisers assured ticketholders the outdoor event would go ahead.
There had been a question mark over whether The Governors Ball NYC could take place this weekend
“Skies are clearing in NYC and conditions are expected to be significantly improved by tomorrow,” reads a post on social media from The Governors Ball NYC. “Gates will be opening at 11:45 am as planned! See you there.”
Much of the smoke plaguing the region can be traced back to fires burning in Quebec, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Nearly 150 fires are active in that province alone – some burning for weeks – with hundreds more alight across Canada.
Hundreds of firefighters from the US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have been deployed to Canada, and more are on the way.
Poor air quality peaked in some major metro areas along the East Coast by late Wednesday or early Thursday. The former was by far the worst day on record in the United States for wildfire smoke since 2006, according to new research from Stanford University scientists.
The Canadian government says nearly 100 million people in the US and Canada are currently experiencing very poor air quality. Millions across North America are being advised to wear high-grade masks outdoors due to dangerous air pollution.
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