Athens Popfest cancelled

You know something is wrong when a festival is over before it even begins. Creators of the Athens Popfest announced yesterday that the festival won't be happening this year due to, you guessed it, financial pressures.

Mike Turner, co-organizer of the event, cited the ailing world economy as the main factor in the decision. He said that though the dates were set and sponsors had already committed to the fifth-annual festival, he just didn't feel comfortable asking businesses for money when they were hurting.

The festival, which is put on by Athens' Happy Happy Birthday to Me imprint, draws bands from across the nation and overseas and has been growing steadily. Last year, 75 bands crowded the college town's venues for four days of live music.

Although none will be coming this year, fellow organizer Gordon Lamb told Online Athens that they're aiming to make the 2010 festival a nonprofit event in hopes of garnering support from more sponsors.

"Establishing it as a nonprofit will open us up to different agencies that weren't able to help us out in the past," he said.