Fair Stiffed In Jukebox Shutdown

California’s Shasta District Fair, among others, still awaits payment more than a month after the abrupt cancellation of the final day of the three-day Jukebox Music Festival in the small town of Anderson, and officials say they have not heard from the promoter since.

Concert promoter Allan Folino canceled the final day of the fest when he allegedly ran out of money to pay the balance of a $225,000 fee to headliner Alan Jackson. Other artists on the July 22 bill and festival vendors also reportedly went unpaid.

Fair CEO Chris Workman told her board of directors the fair is still out some $2,200 in RV parking fees from Folino, according to the Redding Record Searchlight. The Fair was paid $20,000 in advance for grounds rental, as it charges for other events.

The sudden cancellation of the festival was “very disappointing and upsetting,” Workman told the paper, and fair board members openly wondered if it would ever see the outstanding money.

Workman reported to the board that she sent Folino the invoice for the RV parking fees by email and text message shortly after the cancellation.

“I haven’t seen or heard from him since,” she told the paper.

Folino pulled the plug July 22 on what was supposed to be the third day of a three-day music festival after he found out headliner Alan Jackson would not perform without full payment. Turns out, Jackson didn’t perform because the balance of his advance couldn’t be paid.

The abrupt ending to the festival outraged concertgoers. Local business leaders have called the debacle “embarrassing” and a “black eye” on the good people of Anderson.

And the festival failure is probably not the last of Folino’s problems in the northern California town. He was reportedly contracted to produce a concert by Collin Raye at the next Shasta District Fair. Workman’s not holding her breath.

“We are assuming he will not be doing that next year,” she said.