Controversy, Inconsistencies Still Surround Wavefront Music Festival's Future
By Katie Karpowicz in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 30, 2014 6:00PM
Photo: Katie Karpowicz/Chicagoist
In what's become the most confusing festival situation of the upcoming summer, Wavefront Music Festival's future still remains uncertain.
A flurry of articles were published this week regarding the Montrose Beach electronic music fest's 2014 edition, none of which convey consistent information.
"According to 4 Headed Productions, the minds behind Wavefront, the festival is set to happen in 2014," writes EDM Chicago. Dancing Astronaut also reported on the festival's return over the Independence Day weekend but to 31st Street Beach rather than its previous North Side home.
The real kicker comes from yet another article published Tuesday, this one from DNAinfo Chicago, reporting matter of factly that Wavefront has been cancelled, per 46th Ward Ald. James Cappleman's chief of staff Tressa Feher. Cappleman also denied the 31st Street Beach relocation.
In an email to Chicagoist earlier this month Ald. Cappleman stated that he would not support Wavefront's return to Montrose Beach until the event's organizers "secure support letters from the community, including area block clubs and the Lincoln Park Advisory Council; they do a sound test, months before the event, to give the community time to provide feedback for the stage set up, etc.; and that they pay all debts from 2013 before they are approved for 2014."
Noise levels, heavy bass reverb and excessive traffic adding to an already busy holiday weekend were among the leading complaints brought against the festival after last year's edition.
An earlier article published by DNAinfo Chicago Monday included quotes from Brandon Carone, principal at 4 Headed Productions, claiming the the issues have been resolved.
When Chicagoist reached out to 4 Headed Productions partner Dino Gardiakos about the article, he wrote in an email that not all of the information in the article was correct and that "Brandon [sic] was not allowed to speak on behalf of Wavefront at this moment."
Gardiakos did not return Chicagoist's requests for an official statement regarding the articles published Tuesday. Meanwhile, Wavefront Music Festival's Twitter and Facebook pages have been silent since posting about Frankie Knuckles' death earlier this month.
With barely more than two months remaining until Wavefront's reported return, it's hard to imagine that the festival will manage to find its footing, book a lineup, sell tickets and put on a show. Wavefront was one of our summer highlights in the past and its beach-front setting was a true gem when it came to Chicago's electronic music scene so we'd love to see it return. However, we're not getting our hopes up just yet.