LaconiaFest apparently ends on a sour note

LACONIA — With the concert featuring Ted Nugent last night, LaconiaFest ended a day ahead of schedule as Sevendust, the band slated to top the bill tonight cancelled its performance amid worsening financial problems that have beset the music festival from the day it began a week ago.

From the outset both advanced bookings and sales at the gate fell far short of the promoter's projections, with the venue all but empty on the first four days of the rally when, even when admission charges were dropped. According to City Manager Scott Myers the management of the festival defaulted on its payments to the city for the cost of public safety services while two individuals who did not wish to be identified by The Daily Sun Friday said that contractors, vendors and suppliers also found themselves out of pocket.

Attendance increased with the appearance of Steven Tyler, who fronted Aerosmith, on Wednesday and Bret Michaels, the frontman of Poison, on Thursday. However, by Friday management of what remained of the event had changed hands and employees had been let go, many owed unpaid wages.

Tickets for the Ted Nugent concert last night, which were originally priced at least as high as $67 for general admission, were on sale Friday for $5.