Two of New Brunswick’s biggest music festivals will not be going ahead this year as the provincial government announced that no large gatherings would be allowed to proceed for the rest of the year.
Both Harvest Jazz & Blues, slated to take place in September in Fredericton and Area 506, set to take place in Saint John in August, have been cancelled.
“Our staff and volunteers have spent weeks evaluating various scenarios under which we might proceed, but with today’s announcement from the Province of New Brunswick – and out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our community of musicians, volunteers, partners, and patrons – Harvest’s 30th anniversary will be postponed to 2021,” said festival organizers in a media release.
The organizers thanked the public for its patience and support with the difficult decision.
“It is heartbreaking not to be able to present for you the incredible festival we had booked to celebrate our 30th anniversary,” said Brent Staeben, Harvest Jazz & Blue’s director of music programming.
“After last year’s record-setting extravaganza, we had curated a bigger, deeper and wider array of talent that aimed to meet the expectations we raised sky-high last September. We were so looking forward to sharing that lineup with you. Now we turn to protecting the incredible history we have all built together so that we can return to make indelible musical memories with you again in 2021”.
We must confirm what we had sincerely hoped would not be the case: Harvest will not take place this September. Our staff…
Posted by Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival on Friday, April 24, 2020
In a memo to stakeholders on Friday afternoon, Area 506 festival president and chair Ray Gracewood announced the official cancellation of the event.
“I send this note with a heavy heart, but one with mixed emotion. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and supported by the guidance and direction of the New Brunswick Department of Health, we are officially cancelling AREA 506 for 2020,” the memo read.
“The health and safety of our attendees, volunteers, vendors, and artists are of the most paramount importance, and we need to respect that priority as we all adjust to the effects of our new reality.”
Gracewood concludes the note saying that the goal is to have the festival return in 2021.
“I wanted to ensure that one key point comes through clearly on behalf of the AREA 506 organizing committee; we believe that following the effects of COVID-19, events that enrich the lives of New Brunswickers will be more critically important than ever,” Gracewood said.
“We are excited and motivated to be a large part of our own recovery plan, and fully intend to throw the best party the province has ever seen in August 2021.”
Hey 506ers. First off, a big thank you for all your support during this time as we work through what's best and safest…
Posted by AREA 506 on Friday, April 24, 2020
A version of this story was published in Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
