Police pull plug on ‘unauthorized’ concert billed as ‘Groovestock’
BY DAN ROZEK Staff Reporter drozek@suntimes.com June 25, 2012 11:36AM
This promotional poster for the three-day concert in McHenry County, which was canceled by sheriff’s police, appeared on the event’s Facebook page.
Updated: July 27, 2012 6:13AM
Promoters promised a full weekend of music on two outdoor stages in rural McHenry County, with more than 40 DJs performing, room for camping and even shuttles to the site from the Harvard Metra station.
“They were getting ready for a big show,” McHenry County Undersheriff Andrew Zinke said.
But the show didn’t go on — at least in McHenry County.
Police shut down the “Groovestock” music festival before it even started after learning that organizers hadn’t obtained any permits and that the landowners had been told only that about 20 people would be camping on the property.
Promotions on Facebook and Twitter indicated that at least 1,000 people planned to attend the music festival at the venue near County Line Road and Flat Iron Road that organizers dubbed the “Groove Farm.”
Tickets were priced at $10 and $20.
Tipped off by social media traffic, police checked out the wooded property Friday and found a six-person crew erecting two stages, setting up generators and sound equipment and clearing areas for a makeshift campground — though there were no apparent provisions for restrooms.
After checking with property owners and learning from local agencies that no permits had been issued for a large gathering, police shut down the work.
If nothing else, a large crowd in a rural area could have caused health and safety problems, Zinke said Monday.
“They could have had big problems out there if anything had happened,” Zinke said.
When told the event was off, workers removed all their equipment and left peacefully, police said.
No arrests were made, though sheriff’s deputies continued to patrol the area over the weekend so uninformed ticket holders didn’t trespass on the land.
Promoters from Turn Up the Bass Productions couldn’t be reached Monday for comment, but Facebook postings indicate the festival occurred — somewhere.
“Just want to thank everyone who attended Groovestock,” a posting from the promoter read. “It was a rough time at first but to the people who made it thru 3 venues thank you U were great.”
