Bad news for Lockn’ organizers: The upcoming festival has had its liquor license revoked.
The Virginia Board of Alcoholic Beverage Control came to the decision after a hearing regarding a huge roster of violations from last year: undercover agents reported witnessing at least 100 incidents of drug use and photographed or videotaped at least nine; the 23-acre licensed area was insufficiently lit; and multiple agents witnessed and videotaped a topless woman sunbathing. Testimony from one special agent stated that the “blatant drug use was the highest incidence of drug use he’d ever seen in his career” and that it went totally overlooked by Lockn’s hired security guards and festival staffers.
State Senator Creigh Deeds said, “It makes me furious. Lockn’ was in its first year and there were probably mistakes. But it’s a wonderful economic development for Nelson, and it seems like the ABC is trying to shut the thing down.”
Despite the charges, the festival will go on at Oak Ridge Farm in Arrington, VA (which recently announced some major venue changes) with alcohol sales likely uninterrupted as it gets to keep its license during the disciplinary and appeals process. Local breweries like Devil’s Backbone, Blue Mountain Brewery and Starr Hill are lined up to sell beer at the event. Festival organizer Dave Frey claims “it’s bizarre” that his license was renewed at the same time it’s being threatened.
The stacked lineup includes Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Furthur Bob Weir & Ratdog, a String Cheese Incident tribute to Kool & The Gang, and The Allman Bros‘ final festival appearance.
[Via C-Ville]