As for Wallace Blues Festival, we still need to fully get refunds out and organizational business completed. It's too soon right now to offer news on Blues, but do keep your eyes open here for any updates.
Thank you
08/03/2024
A new batch of refunds were mailed out today. We have 60 to go.
The volunteer sorting through our refunds will be out of town through August 12. Refunds will resume after that.
Thank you all very much for your understanding and continued patience.
Thank you
07/23/2024
Greetings
This is Alex, President of BluesFest.
I'm sorry that I have even more difficult news to share. I'm afraid things are just not getting easier.
We learned this morning, when trying to get our latest batch of refunds finalized, that our account has now been suspended by Woo Payments and Stripe. And it's not because they found us to be fraudulent. It is because of multiple complaints to them. I understand the complaints too. I really do. I'm not blaming anyone. But this adds yet another complication and hurdle.
All remaining refunds now will have to be sent by check. This last batch that was supposed to go out is now going out by check.
Two, I also need to make clear, we're refunding as we get money back in. The truth is at the moment, we are nearly under water all together. Yesterday, we received close to $4,000 refunded, and we're working on refunds to ticket holders first as we get funds back in. That's also why this has been slow.
I'm not going to list a bunch of excuses either. That's just the fact though.
I also need to make clear one more financial fact. Since the end of last year's BluesFest, we have not received or taken a dime of local donations either. No Shoshone County business or any other non-profit has lost a single penny of donation to us, not one.
The 2 main recommendations I've received this week are:
Both of those options afford us protections and legally washes our hands of the whole mess. But instead of using what money is there to refund to you and meet our other obligations, that money would then go to being used for legal fees.
That's not fair or right.
I've chosen option 3. Stay and fight and get folks their money back. That's the only right thing to do.
Even this morning we get flamed as frauds elsewhere. Frauds run and hide. I'm staying put and we will make this right with everyone, Period.
I also need to address one more thing regarding Carlton Ahern, as his name keeps getting dropped and being annotated as having nefarious motives or actions and committing fraudulent acts.
ALL Financial decisions have been ultimately MINE. Of course things are discussed as a Board, but Carlton has done absolutely nothing wrong in anyway but give as a volunteer. He IS NOT a fraud of any kind.
In fact, to keep us going at one point this year, he forked in $2,000 of his own money. He also bought the generator last year that kept the show going last year, after power had literally been cut off to the main stage the Friday night before the main Saturday show last year. And it should be made clear, despite all the jabs being levelled, he generously donated that same Generator that powered this year's Music Fest too. If not for Carlton stepping up, even under some heavy local accusations, there'd have been no show at all this year either. That is a fact.
Despite how bad everything's turned, he's been a real hero through this all, as have been our other Board members. Dragging his name or anyone else's, other than mine, any further through the mud, is not just wrong, it's despicable.
Carlton is a very good and honourable man completely undeserving of any negative claims being made against him. It's abhorrent for anyone to keep dragging his name through the mud. It's not right. He's a volunteer.
In any case, I'm not going to continue my part bickering with whomever either. It wastes time and it doesn't solve a single problem. And frankly, only does keep making it harder. This is my responsibility, not Carlton's.
So as I've said, I have chosen option 3.
Stay and Pay our obligations. All of them. That is the only right thing to do.
We're not dissolving. We're not declaring bankruptcy. I'm not running away from this. Period.
But, it is going to take time. That's the only bottom line truth there is to say about it.
I'm not going to leave y'all holding the bag, no matter what. And no excuses either; I'm not quitting until you're satisfied... Period.
I truly am sorry for this mess. It is ultimately my fault. And I am taking responsibility for it.
Nowadays taking responsibility seems to mean just saying the words and resigning to heave the mess on someone else. No, taking responsibility means sticking with it until the problem is fully resolved. And that's exactly what I will do.
Not try to do... WE WILL solve this and make you all whole... Period! There is no other right answer than that. I'm not running away.
Thank you
Alex
PS... I will put it out there. I will accept ideas that can help too. And by August 16th, we will need some new Board officers. These folks who've served this last year are volunteers and very good people. This mess is not theirs anymore. I can only publicly offer my deepest apology to them and genuine gratitude for also standing through this debacle as they have.
Thank you...
07/23/2024
Greetings,
My name is Alex, President of BluesFest.
This is our current update.
A new batch of refunds will clear tonight or tomorrow.
However, the 3rd party running our website and Ticketing, which includes refunds, has resigned. The refunds must each be processed manually and individually.
One thing else regarding Passes, there are still 30 pass holders, who purchased in February that have not been refunded yet.
When the website and ticketing was abruptly taken down in February, the credit card info on these 30 were not retained by the system. We will have to issue checks for these and mail them to you. And we will alert you by email when these go out.
However, further refunds will require a new entity to help issue them.
For clarification, my name is not now, nor has ever been on the bank account. I have no ability to withdraw or issue funds. Nor do I have direct access to our website or ticketing. No Board member has the ability to take out a penny. And that will be made clear when our Financials are finished and made public.
February purchases, but those 30, have been refunded. The remaining purchases since April will also continue being refunded as well, once a new agent is in place.
I will add this. We will not be issuing excuses on this, it just has been a series of bad events and honestly, bad decisions on my part as well. There really is no other excuse for this complete and utter failure.
However, I remain committed to seeing everyone does get a refund and completing other obligations. I will not give up until you are satisfied.
But I do ask for your understanding and further patience. We have very limited manpower and unfortunately, a very complicated system. That's the bottom line truth. I am sorry. I will make it right.
Thank you
Alex
ps... I will also post regularly with updates and progress...
07/19/2024
Hello
It's been a tumultuous week and I know folks are still wondering about the remaining refunds most of all.
We will be releasing a formal statement on Monday.
Changes have taken place within the Board as well as with a 3rd party this last week. We are still working on refunds. It just has not been an easy process at all.
Ticketmaster's policy for refunds (for example) after a cancelled event is "14-21 days or longer in some cases."
The point is, it takes Ticketmaster 14-21 days or longer to issue refunds after an event. The official end of Wallace BluesFest was July 14th.
We have already issued refunds. And we will continue. But we are volunteers, not a big Corporation like Ticketmaster either. Please be patient with us.
We will also be sharing a complete written timeline of events that led to the final failure of Wallace BluesFest.
And there will be a complete release of our Financials required for public inspection. Once we receive a final date of completion, that will be shared.
Please understand, we are a tiny group, made even tinier this last week.
The fact is, the Blues Festival, as we'd originally put together was 4 days at the school, with the 2 free days downtown approved by Wallace City Council in October 2023. That is in the October 2023 Council meeting minutes.
Starting in December 2023 and the months following, our plans were forced to keep changing. This led to ever-increasing costs, delays and all kinds of problems. And most impacting, our fundraising event that was to be held on June 29th, but not specifically approved by City Council, was cancelled due to the new noise ordinance passed in June. City Council had approved street closure for us on the 28th only and said at the time we didn't need specific approval by them for events at the school. Turned out, we really did need that.
And despite false rumors to the contrary, a signed school contract was issued for both New Faves and BluesFest. That signed contract was submitted to the City.
In anycase, there are 2 sides. We chose to keep quieter last week, specifically so as not to hurt the efforts made to keep the music going. We wanted to help mitigate as much loss to the community as we could. However, we received no such grace in return, with all manner of heinous accusations and gossip being leveled toward us. It's really just entirely heart-breaking and a horrible ending for such a beloved NW Blues Festival. We'd literally been working on this event solidly since the end of the 2023 BluesFest.
Again, an official statement will be released on Monday.
Remaining emails and voicemail will also be replied to starting on Monday.
Comments are not being opened here now either. Please submit any questions by email or voicemail.
Thank you
07/13/2024
Hello all!
We're releasing this today instead of waiting until Monday.
First off, we want to thank you for all of your patience and understanding in the situation regarding both the changing events and the ticket refund process. We understand that so many of you have had to change your itineraries and plans and we are so grateful to the local Businesses and individual volunteers of Wallace and in Silverton, for working so hard to create a music event for all of you to enjoy!
And for crystal clarification, we are not Wallace Music Fest or Silverton Mountain Manor, and Historic Wallace Blues Festival has no affiliations.
We also wanted to put out an update on where we are in the refund process. Many refunds have been processed in the last few days, however, we still have 172 left to be refunded. While we wish we had a set date to give you as to when all refunds will be completed, we do not have that date at this time. We will continue to update you as we move forward with this process.
Again, thank you so much for all of your understanding and we hope you are able to get out there and enjoy all the music and merriments taking place this weekend! Saturday in Wallace and Sunday in Silverton.
Thank you
07/07/2024
🎶Mad-Sol 🎶 Live music-ALL AGES at 1313 this Thursday July 11th at 8PM! Be sure to share the news that there will still be a party at Wallace Music Fest next week!! Also, donations are needed to help make it successful! Use the link provided below to make a contribution and become part of the show! See ya there 💋
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Send a message to Historic Wallace Blues Festival:
Enjoy award-winning blues bands on the streets of Historic Wallace, Idaho. Voted "Best Blues Event" 4 times by the Inland Empire Blues Society and an inductee into their "Blues Hall of Fame"! 16 Bands & single performers on 4 stages featuring our famous Beer Garden as well as 20 Unique Shops, 10 Restaurants, 7 Pubs, 2 Breweries, and an Espresso and Wine Bar! NEW this year is shuttle service from CDA to Wallace and back on Saturday of the festival. Tickets available at wallaceblues.com
$40 for Saturday's Gated Main Stage Event
(Friday is FREE at the Cedar Creek Stage!)
$20 for Shoshone County Residents with photo ID (at door only)
$10 for Children 12 and under (at door only)
Tickets can also be found at the following local outlets for $40 (6% Idaho sales tax included)
* NEW THIS YEAR *
$39.00 Round Trip Shuttle bus service on Saturday of the festival from CDA
Visit www.wallaceblues.com for more info
A free public trolley will connect Kellogg with the Wallace Festival. It will start on Friday at 4:30 PM from Kellogg and run every hour until 11:30 PM. On Saturday, it will start at 10:30 AM and run every hour until 11:30 PM. On both days, the final departure from Wallace will be at midnight. Details about transportation options can be found on our website.
​A full list of Camping and Lodging options can also be found on our website
