Alienstock music festival in Nevada cancelled over fears it would become a 'humanitarian disaster' and 'Fyre Fest 2.0'

Organisers forced to ‘pull the plug’ on festival near Area 51 due to ‘blatant disregard for the safety of the expected 10,000+ attendees’

Alienstock music festival near US military base Area 51 in Nevada has been cancelled over fears it would become a “humanitarian disaster” and a potential “Fyre Fest 2.0”.

In an official statement posted to the festival’s website, organisers explained that they have been forced to “pull the plug” on the three-day gathering, which was supposed to begin on 20 September.

In July, the “Storm Area 51” Facebook event made headlines when millions of people indicated that they were “interested” in or “going” to “see them aliens” by invading the top secret military base. Instead of actually storming the location, founder Matty Roberts decided to hold a music festival in Rachel, the closest town to Area 51.

Roberts has now cancelled the event “due to the lack of infrastructure, poor planning, risk management and blatant disregard for the safety of the expected 10,000+ Alienstock attendees”.

The statement added that organisers have “permanently ended” their relationship with the festival’s permit holder, Connie West, who they claim failed to provide them “with the proof that things expected at this festival were in place".

“We are not interested in, nor will we tolerate any involvement in a Fyre Fest 2.0,” said the statement. “We foresee a possible humanitarian disaster in the works, and we can’t participate in any capacity at this point.”

Fyre Festival, which was advertised as a “luxury” event and promoted by models and influencers, descended into chaos in 2017 after guests arrived to an unfinished site that lacked proper food, water or accommodation.

Alienstock founder Roberts announced on Facebook that the festival has been renamed “Area 51 Celebration” and will instead take place as a free, one-day event at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Centre.

West, however, is still planning her own version of Alienstock in Rachel, Nevada. “I’m going to do it on my scale,” she told KVVU-TV. “I’m going to do it the way I know how and what I’ve been planning for because I know no other way to do it. But it’s still happening.”

She added: “I’m sad and I’m brokenhearted, but at the same time, it is what it is. If [Roberts] chooses to go somewhere else, that’s his choice. I’m still having a party because people are still coming to Rachel.”