Beloved Northern California music festival experiences 50% drop in ticket sales
Just days away from the outdoor music concert's return to the small town of Quincy on Thursday through Sunday, July 3-6, co-owner and producer Dave Margulies says that revenue is continuing to plummet.
'Our last successful year was 2019,' Margulies told the Chronicle.
Before the COVID pandemic, he said the festival sold an average of 6,000 tickets a year. Sales have dropped to around 4,000 since then — and this year's event has barely cleared more than 2,000.
Single-day ticket prices range from $82 to $109 apiece for adults, but with overall costs exceeding $2 million, Margulies admits it's looking grim.
'We've tried to adjust to remain sustainable,' he said. 'It's been very, very difficult.'
Organizers already cut back on operational costs — such as fencing, golf carts and talent fees — in an effort to reduce last year's budget, which was approximately $2.75 million.
'It was so bad,' he said. 'But we realized the repercussions of canceling. That to me would signify the death knell of the brand.'
The four-day family-friendly event has become known for its intimate performances, quirky experiences and spontaneous collaborations that showcase both rising and established talent, from El Sobrante rock band Primus to Phish's Trey Anastasio and improvisational jam band Dogs in a Pile
For its 33rd iteration this week, the lineup features Palo Alto bluegrass artist Molly Tuttle, Saratoga rock group ALO and East Bay hip-hop artist Lyrics Born, among others.
'This event is too beloved to let it go,' he said, noting that organizers ultimately decided to 'power through' while trying to reduce losses as much as possible.
Despite the festival's current struggles, Margulies remains optimistic. He said they've seen a slight uptick in ticket sales over the past week and is counting on Fourth of July weekend's sunny weather to draw more music-lovers in at the last minute.
While he acknowledges 'we're not going to double our sales in a week,' he said the goal is to sell at least 1,000 more tickets.
Those looking to purchase tickets can use the discount code '15SIERRA' to receive 15% off four-day passes.
'This is a very passionate community and there's a lot of love out there for this festival,' Margulies added. 'We're hopeful that people will come and rally.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
44 minutes ago
- New York Times
Go Forth and Fourth
The Fourth of July party I go to every summer never varies (thankfully). Rain or shine, we sip Fish House punch in my friends' backyard, eat grilled lamb tacos and bean salads, and, for a rousing finale, take turns dramatically reading snippets of the Declaration of Independence or other rebellious manifestoes before breaking for pie. It's a jolly time. Do you have a festive tradition or recipe for the Fourth that you look forward to all year long? I want to hear about it: hellomelissa@ I love a peek at other people's tables. If you're still figuring out your menu, we have plenty of ideas for you here, including Yasmin Fahr's grilled tahini-honey chicken thighs. Made with pantry staples, this humble gathering of tahini, lemon and honey alchemizes into dinner party gold: gorgeously charred pieces of chicken with a nutty, caramelized flavor brightened by citrus. If you don't have access to a grill (or if it's being rained on), these are just as good cooked in the oven or in a skillet. It's a perfect last-minute party dish for Independence Day and days beyond. Featured Recipe View Recipe → Grilled tofu: More grilled goodness, this time meatless, can be found in Kay Chun's garlicky, gingery, soy-glazed grilled tofu slices. Heating the marinade before pouring it on the tofu slices gives you an especially deep, complex flavor. And if grilling isn't in the cards, you can make this, like Yasmin's chicken, in a cast-iron pan on the stove. Greek salad: Lidey Heuck's less-is-more Greek salad features a minimalist mix of juicy tomatoes, sweet red onions, plenty of olives and a slab of salty, creamy feta cheese. Use the best olive oil you have here. In this easy, versatile beauty, every ingredient counts. Succotash with sausage and shrimp: This jubilant dish by Vallery Lomas puts a new spin on the succotash staples of sweet corn and lima beans. By fortifying the mix with spicy andouille sausage and shrimp and adding okra and basil for texture and freshness, she turns a classic side dish into a satisfying meal. Pasta with corn, mint and red onions: Depending on where you live, local fresh corn may still be a few weeks away. But when it arrives, greet it with this colorful pasta dish, which crowns seasonal produce and cavatelli with dollops of creamy ricotta. Buttermilk chess pie: Every party needs a dessert, and to me the Fourth calls for pie, preferably one topped with a windfall of seasonal berries. Pile them all up on Lisa Donovan's tangy chess pie with its jiggly, soft custard nestled in a crisp, buttery crust. It's the only fireworks I need. To get these and all the other summery, celebratory recipes at New York Times Cooking, you'll want to subscribe. If you're hit by some kind of a technical snafu, email the smart people at cookingcare@ for help. Happy Independence Day! I'll see you on Monday.
CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
Save Up to $900 On a Stunning New LG OLED TV With These 4th of July Deals
If you're squinting at a small TV or your old one is starting to show its age, this Fourth of July deal is for you. The LG C5 series is a stunning display, and right now, you can pick one up with equally impressive savings. With sizes ranging from a modest 42 inches to a gargantuan 83 inches, there should be a model to suit all budgets and homes. Order soon, and you'll save up to $900 off your new TV, too. The biggest savings can be had on the bigger TVs, as you'd expect, but you'll still save a pretty penny no matter which one you choose. In fact the smallest discount available is still a cool $200, but we can't vouch for how long these deals will last. For that reason alone, we suggest ordering your new TV soon if you're in the market for one. Best 4th of July TV Sales Our shopping experts have checked through every July 4th TV deal available anywhere, and rounded up the best discounts for you to take advantage of while there's still time. See Now The biggest savings are available when you choose that monster 83-inch model, slashing the eye-watering $5,397 asking price to a more palatable $4,497. That's a lot of money, to be sure, but you'll get a lot of TV for your money. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. The most notable thing is, of course, that 83-inch display which will take up plenty of space in your home. But if you've the room for it, you won't be disappointed the next time you sit down to watch football or enjoy the latest must-play game. The good news starts with support for the usual suspects, including 4K, Dolby Atmos, HDR10 and Dolby Vision. But it continues with its support for Amazon Alexa. That means you can talk to your TV to control it, not just shout at your favorite sports team. Other features worth writing home about include a buttery-smooth 144Hz refresh rate as well as support for a variable refresh rate. That means this TV is perfect for gaming with compatible systems, so you can expect gorgeous visuals and as little blurring as possible. Support for Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium rounds out the main gaming features. Connecting your favorite devices to your new TV will be a cinch thanks to the four HDMI 2.1 inputs, while the built-in WebOS software means you'll have quick and easy access to all of your favorite streaming apps and services. Not sure that you need to go all the way to 83 inches? The smallest 42-inch model is just $1,197 while the $1,697 65-inch version sits somewhere in the middle. 48-, 55- and 77-inch models are also on offer with their own discounts as well. Why this deal matters You can't beat big-screen entertainment, but buying that screen is always costly. That's why we think it's important to take advantage of a great TV deal when it presents itself. And we think that these discounts definitely fit the bill.
Gizmodo
2 hours ago
- Gizmodo
Forget JBL, Amazon's Choice Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker for 41% Off and It Can Charge Your Phone
Fourth of July weekend is just a few short days away. It wouldn't be complete without pool, sun, and hot dogs—but you're not going to want to forget the tunes. You need a solid speaker that can pump music across the whole backyard so folks standing around the grill, people hopping in the pool, and fellas playing cornhole can all hear Charli XCX. This waterproof Bluetooth speaker by Houl Zallee could be just the speaker you're looking for. Right now, Amazon has it discounted by 41% which knocks it down from its standard price of $100. Some very easy math will tell you that works out to a savings of $41—shaving the price you pay down to just $59. This powerful Bluetooth boombox-shaped stereo speaker features four dedicated drivers is comprised of two 15W full-range drivers with two 5W tweeters. It's also got two passive radiators on the front and rear of the speaker. All together it can deliver 40W surround sound (peak 60W). What you get is a punchy bass, crisp treble, and well-balanced mid-range. If you have a second Houl Zallee speaker, it can be paired with the other to achieve 80W stereo sound. See at Amazon Any outdoor speaker worth its salt is going to have solid battery life. You don't know when you'll get a chance to plug it back in after all so it needs to be able to sustain itself for the whole party. Well the Houl Zallee Bluetooth speaker can reach a 32 hour playtime on a single charge. Having the speaker die on you mid jam sesh is the last of your worries. In fact, the battery is so good you can even use it to charge your devices like your phone. That's an excellent feature considering you'll most likely be streaming the music from your phone. Built for outdoor adventures, the Houl Zallee speaker has been rigorously tested to meet IPX7 waterproof standards. It repels water so well, it'll actually float on top of it. If it ever gets knocked into the pool or off the boat, it'll be easy to retrieve and take no damage. It's durably crafter from ABS and metal. The portable speaker is built to withstand impacts either from getting bumped around or falling to the ground. It has a convenient handle to make traveling with it easy-peasy. For a limited time, you can secure yourself the Houl Zallee Bluetooth portable speaker over at Amazon. The 41% discount brings the price down to just $59. See at Amazon
