All Tomorrow's Parties pulls the plug on Jehu and friends

The Drive Like Jehu–curated All Tomorrow’s Parties 2.0 festival, reported in the Reader last year and promising rare performances by bands such as Wire and Flamin’ Groovies from April 22–24 in Manchester, England, has been canceled due to insufficient ticket sales.

Several San Diego bands were scheduled to perform, including Mrs. Magician, the Schizophonics, and Diamanda Galás. Drive Like Jehu, Rocket From the Crypt, and John Cale of the Velvet Underground were the scheduled headliners.

John Reis (Drive Like Jehu/Rocket From The Crypt) called the four months of planning a “long and bumpy road,” continuing in a Facebook post, “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.”

Reis stated the band remained hopeful, until recently, that the festival would take place. “I realize people want answers,” he said. “I have found out about most of the information involving the problems that plagued this from the start the same way as everyone else…” Last week, rumors began circulating online that ATP had failed to honor promises made to bands.

“[These bands] did not have the promised means to attend,” Reis explained. “It was only then revealed that ATP was unable to honor the agreement with the ticket holders that purchased accommodation.”

ATP sought to postpone the event until November, but after the “ritualistic turmoil” of planning, the band had no interest, and sought to book its own free show.

“ATP is out of funds,” Reis penned. “We looked into trying to salvage the weekend by putting on our own free show in Manchester.” But no suitable venue was available on such short notice.

“I couldn’t feel more terrible that the fest isn’t happening,” Reis lamented. “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.”

ATP issued a press release Monday morning, citing the festival’s “lack of financial viability.”

Cursory research demonstrates ATP’s history of canceling its own festivals. ATP’s Barry Hogan, who approached Drive Like Jehu with the concept, consistently cites lack of ticket sales.

“...This whole mess has the extra sting of this not being an isolated incident,” Reis bemoaned.

Customers who purchased the tickets from third-party ticket vendors will receive refunds “as soon as possible.” Customers who purchased on the ATP Ticket Store “will be processed in priority order based on the original booking date of the customer.” ATP did not give a timeline.

The festival would have been Drive Like Jehu’s first performance in the U.K. since 1994.