Drive Like Jehu say their curated ATP event in Manchester is cancelled

<s>All Tomorrows Parties 2.0 w/d .. 2016 - Drive Like Jehu — Photo credit: Nicholas Wesson

All Tomorrows Parties 2.0 w/d 2 - CANCELLED 2016

Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th April 2016
Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M17 1AB, England MAP
£100 per person

Daily capacity: 5,500

Drive Like Jehu have announced on Facebook (here) that All Tomorrow’s Parties 2.0 wknd 2 curated by them will not be happening next weekend, from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th April 2016 at Victoria Warehouse in Manchester. The troubled event having already moved from Pontins Prestatyn to the Manchester

John Reis from Drive Like Jehu issued the statement saying, "All Tomorrow’s Parties CANCELS ATP curated by Drive Like Jehu in Manchester via Prestatyn.

"After 4 months of a long and bumpy ride, the wheels finally fell off the wagon and crashed and burned. A search party was sent to Monkey Island to scan the wreckage for survivors and only found Barry Hogan/ATP collecting bits of luggage and body parts for his next show 'ATP 3.0 The 90’s Deconstructed'.

"It’s a uniquely cruel hoax to appeal to Drive Like Jehu’s ego and ask us to create a program based on personally inviting the bands and musicians that have inspired us and changed the way we hear music and then subject them and their supporters to this. We really wanted this show to happen more than anything. It had all the makings of a legendary weekend. We were so committed to seeing this through that we remained hopeful ( blind in retrospect) amongst the ritualistic turmoil and crisis and trusted their solutions that would ensure that the show would definitely go on and the attendees would be treated fairly and the bands would be respected and celebrated.

"I realize people want answers. I have found out about most of the information involving the problems that plagued this from the start the same way as everyone else. And although the internet is hardly a reliable source for fact, this whole mess has the extra sting of this not being an isolated incident.

"48 hours ago word started to trickle in that Barry hadn’t honoured his agreement with many of the bands. These bands were not cancelling, but rather did not have the promised means to attend. It was only then revealed that ATP was unable to honour the agreement with the ticket holders that purchased accommodation. ATP is out of funds. ATP offered to postpone the event until November as a solution. No thanks. We looked into trying to salvage the weekend by putting on our own free show in Manchester. But at this late date, no suitable venue is available.

"This affects the Swami John Reis & The Blind Shake shows that were to follow ATP as well. We are unable to come over at this time.

"To all the bands and ticket holders, I couldn’t feel more terrible that the fest isn’t happening. We were willing to come over under any circumstance even if it meant we would not get paid, just to see this show happen. I wish I could give you more answers at this point and advice what to do next."

As well as hand-picking the line-up, Drive Like Jehu were also set to headline the 2016 festival. Also confirmed were Betunizer, The Blind Shake, The El Vez Punk Rock Revue, The Gories, King Khan & The Shrines, King Khan & BBQ Show, Mission Of Burma,Rocket From The Crypt, Metz, Omar Souleyman, Nueva Vulcano, Dan Sartain, The Monkeywrench (featuring members of Mudhoney), The Ex, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, PyPy, Hot Snakes, Wire, Diamanda Galas, The Kids, Mrs Magician, The Flamin' Groovies, Holly Golightly, Martin Rev, The Spit, The Schizophonics, and Soulside (performing Hot Bodi-gram LP in its entirety).

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