School Sues LaureLive Promoter Alleging Unpaid Fees For Cleveland-area Festival Site

Laurel School in Novelty, Ohio, says festival producer Elevation Music “failed and refused” to pay its obligated fees under the terms of its contract, damaging the school in excess of $25,000, according to the complaint, which was filed Jan. 30 in Cuyahoga County Court. 

Elevation Group President Denny Young denies the company owes the school any money, and recently announced a new name and location for the company’s Cleveland-area Festival –  WonderStruck In Cleveland, taking place June 6-7 Lakeland Community College in the Cleveland suburb of Kirkland featuring Brittany Howard, Portugal. The Man, Walk The Moon, Third Eye Blind and many others.

“This is a baseless and unfortunate lawsuit that we will vigorously defend,” Young told Pollstar in a statement. “The issue here is that Laurel School is refusing to follow the amendment to our agreement that they wrote and requested we sign prior to the 2019 event. The amendment is very clear in regards to payments between the parties. The fact is, they are not entitled to any money.”  

LaureLive over 2016-2019 featured artists including Sheryl Crow, Hozier, Grace Potter, Andy Grammer, Elle King, Gary Clark Jr., The Revivalists, X Ambassadors, Foster The People, Lauv, Brandi Carlile, Rag N Bone Man, Lewis Capaldi, and many others. 

 “Over the four years the Elevation Group produced LaureLive, we met all obligations and fulfilled every aspect of each contract and amendment Laurel School asked us to sign,” Young’s statement continues. “For Laurel School to demand now, that we pay them monies they are not entitled to, in order to serve their financial needs, is something we will not do.  We have a new name, a better site, our best lineup to date and we are looking forward.” 

Young says 12,500 to 15,000 fans are expected per day at WonderStruck, which adds to the company’s new WonderBus festival in Columbus, which debuted last year with Walk The Moon, X Ambassadors, My. Joy, Ben Harper and others.

Laurel School seeks $25,000 in relief as well as attorneys’ fees, costs and other expenses.