Raves Facing Distancing Measures

Two more electronic music festivals have faced cancellations and changes of venue in the aftermath of the death of one teen and numerous injuries during the Electric Daisy Carnival at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum June 25-26.

A Hard L.A. / M.I.A. concert scheduled for July 17 at Los Angeles State Historic Park was canned days before the show.

Documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times’ Pop & Hiss music blog reportedly indicated that Hard was canceled in light of increased scrutiny and logistics for large-scale electronic festivals in the region.

In a statement Hard confirmed the show had been canceled, “but not due to the lack of support or the full approval from the personnel at the City of Los Angeles and California State Parks who have signed off on our comprehensive security plan.

“We have decided to instead produce one massive event on August 7th at the same amazing location, the Los Angeles State Historic Park in Downtown Los Angeles,” organizers said.

Tickets for the Hard L.A. / M.I.A. show will be considered valid at the Hard Summer Music Festival date in August and the Hard also offered refunds through its website.

In nearby Pico Rivera, the all ages Fresh Squeezed Music Festival was set to take place at the city’s Sports Center July 10.  But in the week before Fresh Squeezed, the Los Angeles Coliseum Board temporarily banned contracts with rave promoters.

Pico Rivera officials decided to play it safe and follow suit.

“There’s nothing more important, from the position of a municipality, than looking after the health and safety of our people, particularly our youth,” Pico Rivera Asst. City Manager Jeffrey Prang told KABC News.  “The city understands that, the operator of the sports arena understands that, as well as, in particular, the sheriff and fire department.”

The event was relocated to Rancho Farallon in Industry on July 9, however a lack of required permits led officials in that city to pull the plug as well, KABC reported.

Fresh Squeezed was expected to draw as many as 10,000, according to the event website. The fest finally found a home at the 2,500-capacity ASU Fox Theater in San Bernardino.

The L.A. Coliseum Board was expected to meet to discuss rave events and safety measures at future Coliseum shows July 16.