Arts & Entertainment

UPDATED: Music To Know Festival Canceled

Low ticket sales prompt plug to be pulled on concert. Town super says community should have done more.

Organizers for the Music To Know Festival on Saturday pulled the plug on the event, blaming low ticket sales for the decision to cancel the festival.

The two-day concert, which would have featured headliners Vampire Weekend and Bright Eyes, among a bevy of other bands, was slated for Aug. 13 and Aug. 14 on the grounds of the East Hampton Airport.

"It is with heavy, heavy heart that we regret to inform you that the inaugural MTK: Music To Know Festival in East Hampton will not take place," organizers announced in a statement. "Despite our unique vision and arranging a world-class line-up, ticket sales were not adequate to allow the event to continue. We wanted to let everyone know now before engaging more deeply."

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As of Saturday, that message had replaced the homepage of the festival's website.

Ticketholders are being told to check back on the site next week for information on refunds.

Find out what's happening in East Hamptonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Controversy surrounded the festival in the past few months, including debates over using public grounds such as . Some locals were also concerned that the event was to take place .

News of the cancellation also comes as a similar festival, Escape to New York, is making its debut on the Shinnecock Reservation in Southampton. Early turnout to that festival was low, but admissions picked up on Saturday.

Following the news of MTK being called off, Escape to New York organizers announced via their website that the festival will offer .

RELATED: Southampton Patch Coverage of Escape to New York

East Hampton Supervisor Bill Wilkinson on Saturday said he was disappointed that the community failed to rally around the festival, and the controversies likely held major sponsors from getting behind the event.

"On Monday morning, the East Hampton politicians are going to say we dodged a bullet on that one. We didn't dodge a bullet, we lost an opportunity," he said.

Organizers had agreed to , as long as the concert took place. Those nonprofits are now out that cash, Wilkinson said.

At the same time, the festival promised to pay the East Hampton School District $20,000 to use the high school parking lots.

With reporting by Taylor Vecsey.


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