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Pretty Lights, Above & Beyond Canceled
Facing as much as $18,500 in charges for canceling last week’s “Return To Fantazia” concert didn’t stop the University Of Massachusetts from calling off two more EDM shows. Gigs by Pretty Lights and Above & Beyond have been nixed, blaming recent overdoses of “Molly.”
Above & Beyond was scheduled for Oct. 4 and Pretty Lights was supposed to take the stage Oct. 30. Both shows, as well as the Sept. 21 “Return to Fantazia” event, were booked at the campus’ Mullins Center in Amherst.
Photo: John Davisson
Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Empire Polo Field, Indio, Calif.
Several people have recently died of overdoses of Molly, a form of ecstasy, after attending EDM shows. One fatality happened not too far from the campus after a Zedd show at Boston’s House Of Blues. NV Concepts, which co-promoted the Zedd concert, was producing the “Return To Fantazia” event.
“Unfortunately, the factors that led to cancellation of the Sept. 21 concert have not positively shifted,” said Enku Gelaye, interim vice chancellor for student affairs and campus life, in an e-mail sent today to UMass Amherst students, according to The Republican.
“In fact, we have grown even more concerned about ongoing reports of overdoses at such events. The Molly-taking culture at these shows is real and now exceedingly dangerous to the health and safety of concert attendees.”
Refunds for the Pretty Lights and Above & Beyond shows are available at point of purchase. According to The Republican, Global Spectrum, which manages the Mullins, is negotiating with the promoter over the cost of the canceling the dates.