AlienStock: 'Area 51 raid' music festival cancelled over fears it would be like Fyre Festival

Harriet Brewis @HattieBrewis11 September 2019

A music festival inspired by the viral “Storm Area 51” Facebook event has been cancelled.

AlienStock, a so-called Woodstock for alien watchers, was set to take place between September 20 and 22 in the US town of Rachel, Nevada.

It was spearheaded by Matty Roberts, the creator of a satirical Facebook page which invited people to flood the mysterious Area 51 site, famous for its UFO conspiracy theories.

But with just over a week to go until the event, Mr Roberts and his fellow event organisers announced they were “pulling the plug” on AlienStock.

2 million people have said they are 'attending' the Storm Area 51 Facebook event. (Facebook )
Facebook

They said they were concerned the event could become the next Fyre Festival, referring to the notorious 2017 music festival whose failings became subject of a scathing Netflix documentary.

A statement posted on the AlienStock website yesterday read: “We are not interested in, nor will we tolerate any involvement in a FYREFEST 2.0."

The organisers cited a “lack of infrastructure, poor planning, risk management and blatant disregard for the safety of the expected 10,000+ AlienStock attendees,” as reasons for the event cancellation.

“We foresee a possible humanitarian disaster in the works, and we can’t participate in any capacity at this point,” the statement added.

A statement on the official website said the organisers would 'not tolerate any involvement in a FYREFEST 2.0'
Alienstockfestival.com

Two million people have so far signed up to the “Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us” Facebook event, which vows to flood the area on September 20 to uncover alien activity.

Although it began as a joke, eager fans have made plans to visit the surrounding area, booking hotel rooms and paying to stay at nearby campsites.

Guard Gate at Area 51 (Groom Lake, Dreamland) near Rachel, Nevada
Getty Images

Last month, local authorities in Rachel told Buzzfeed News they were concerned about the town's ability to host the thousands of people expected to attend AlienStock.

They were especially concerned since Rachel, which has a population of around 70 people, has no petrol stations or food shops.

Responding to the event’s cancellation, the town released a statement on its website saying: “The Alienstock event in Rachel just became Fyre Fest 2.0 as we had predicted.

“The creator of the Storm Area 51 movement pulled out because he feels the event is not safe and lacks organization.

“With just over a week to go no preparations have been made and the signed bands will play in Las Vegas instead.

“If any event still happens it is going to be a pretty sad affair with no bands, very little infrastructure and a lot of unhappy campers.”

Instead, the town has joined the original “Storm Area 51” organisers in promoting a free Area 51 celebration event taking place in Las Vegas on September 19.

Titled simply “Area 51 Celebration”, the alternative event will be held at a large arena in the city, promising “an out-of-this world evening with top-secret entertainment.”

It states on its website: “Instead of storming a government base [...] come in peace. We have everything you need to make this celebration one to remember.”

The free alternative event will take place in downtown Las Vegas

But not all Facebook users have expressed enthusiasm at the change of plan.

“OG alien stock canceled..no more desert party..what a disappointment..now its one day thing in Vegas on a THURSDAY!? I took vacay days off for cmon at-least let it be a Friday,” wrote one disappointed Storm 51 member.

“Does this mean no desert fun?” wrote another.

The United States Air Force facility commonly known as Area 51 is a remote detachment of Edwards Air Force Base.
DigitalGlobe/Getty Images

But other users have been quick to reassure that an event will still be taking place in Rachel, just without Mr Roberts’ backing.

The owner of a motel in the town, who originally partnered with Mr Roberts for AlienStock preparations, has said she still plans to hold an equivalent festival.

Connie West, who owns the Lil A’Le’Inn told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that she had already obtained confirmed performers and sold 2,400 camp sites, so would move ahead with plans to hold her own event.

The Lil A’Le’Inn website shows its ‘Raid on Area 51’ event is “booked solid”, and is due to get underway at 3am local time on September

The website offers only one instruction to revellers: “Come sit back and watch the fun.”

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