Post by KHRIS on May 25, 2006 22:26:42 GMT -5
GLENS FALLS -- Throngs of heavy metal music fans who visited downtown Glens Falls the past two summers won't be returning this year.
Ted Etoll, who promoted the Aggressive Music Festival at the Glens Falls Civic Center in 2004 and 2005, said Tuesday he's collaborating with another promoter on a similar event in Poughkeepsie this year instead of returning to Glens Falls.
The Aggressive Music Festival, featuring top metal bands such as Slayer and Hatebreed, drew 4,100 people on Saturday and 2,960 on Sunday in its first year.
But last year, Etoll said, the newly-started Sounds of the Underground festival at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie siphoned off attendance from the Glens Falls event. Last year's scaled-down, one-day event featuring Mudvayne, attracted between 3,000 and 3,500.
Rather than compete with each other again, the two promoters decided to collaborate on a single festival.
"To compete among two juggernauts -- it's prohibitive," Etoll said.
Another contributing factor was the loss of a media sponsor for the Glens Falls event.
The Edge, an Albany radio station, previously sponsored the Aggressive Music Festival but withdrew after switching its format to classic rock.
Although the Aggressive Music Festival will not be held, Etoll said he would still like to book concerts at the Glens Falls Civic Center if he can line up bands that would appeal to a local audience.
"I love Glens Falls. ... We'll be back," he said.
Civic Center Executive Director Suzanna Bernd said she'd be happy to work with Etoll at anytime.
"He's a class-act promoter, and we're very proud to be associated with him," she said.
Losing the Aggressive Music Festival won't affect the city-owned arena's projected revenues for this year because the event was not figured into the 2006 budget, Bernd said.
Ted Etoll, who promoted the Aggressive Music Festival at the Glens Falls Civic Center in 2004 and 2005, said Tuesday he's collaborating with another promoter on a similar event in Poughkeepsie this year instead of returning to Glens Falls.
The Aggressive Music Festival, featuring top metal bands such as Slayer and Hatebreed, drew 4,100 people on Saturday and 2,960 on Sunday in its first year.
But last year, Etoll said, the newly-started Sounds of the Underground festival at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie siphoned off attendance from the Glens Falls event. Last year's scaled-down, one-day event featuring Mudvayne, attracted between 3,000 and 3,500.
Rather than compete with each other again, the two promoters decided to collaborate on a single festival.
"To compete among two juggernauts -- it's prohibitive," Etoll said.
Another contributing factor was the loss of a media sponsor for the Glens Falls event.
The Edge, an Albany radio station, previously sponsored the Aggressive Music Festival but withdrew after switching its format to classic rock.
Although the Aggressive Music Festival will not be held, Etoll said he would still like to book concerts at the Glens Falls Civic Center if he can line up bands that would appeal to a local audience.
"I love Glens Falls. ... We'll be back," he said.
Civic Center Executive Director Suzanna Bernd said she'd be happy to work with Etoll at anytime.
"He's a class-act promoter, and we're very proud to be associated with him," she said.
Losing the Aggressive Music Festival won't affect the city-owned arena's projected revenues for this year because the event was not figured into the 2006 budget, Bernd said.
