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A MUSIC FESTIVAL in Belgium featuring major stars like rapper Cardi B came to a chaotic end before it had even started.
Security concerns were touted as the reason behind the cancellation of the VestiVille festival in Belgium on Friday, though local officials have launched a fraud investigation.
This has added a further layer of confusion and rekindled memories of the ill-fated Fyre Festival, the failed music bash in the Bahamas in 2017.
Fyre Festival is known around the world following the release last year of a Netflix documentary, which documented a litany of mismanagement and cut corners which resulted in disaster once people arrived on the island for the festival.
VestiVille was die to kick off on Friday , with videos posted on Twitter showing an elaborate stage apparently ready for the three-day music fest on a campsite in Lommel, in Belgium’s Flemish region.
But thousands of festival-goers from around Europe and elsewhere got a shock as police, some with dogs, moved in to try to keep them out of the grounds as they arrived.
Investigation
Belgium’s RTBF network reported yesterday that the Limbourg prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation on suspicion of fraud over payments.
Spokesperson Jeroen Swijssen said three of the festival organisers were questioned Friday night. The three were not identified.
An investigating judge was said to be questioning them further over the weekend on an array of suspicions including fraud, laundering and breach of trust.
VestiVille wrote on Facebook and Twitter on Friday that Lommel Mayor Bob Nijs stopped the festival on security grounds. The posts said that after consulting security services and security for star rapper A$AP Rocky, “it was decided that the safety of the artist and the public could not be guaranteed”.
However, security issues were not currently included in the investigation.
A$AP Rocky said on Twitter that the promoters had told him that “security and infrastructure concerns” would have been “handled but unfortunately for you and me they didn’t.”
No response
There was no immediate response to an email query to VestiVille about alleged deficiencies and other potential problems behind the cancellation, which recalled the Fyre Festival debacle.
Rapper Ja Rule, a co-founder of Fyre Festival, was to perform Saturday at VestiVille.
He has denied any involvement in any fraud in relation to Fyre Festival and has never been charged with any wrongdoing related to the failed enterprise.
Billy McFarland (26) Fyre’s co-founder, was sentenced last October in a federal court in Manhattan to six years in prison. He admitted to defrauding investors of $26 million (€22.83 million) and over $100,000 (€87,800) in a fraudulent ticket-selling scheme after his arrest in the scam.
With reporting from Cormac Fitzgerald
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Anythings better than the constant rain! Gardens like a swamp add in a labrador, two cats and cream tiles
Ohh I hear u Susan LLyod my Floors are destroyed 2dogs and a cat
A mop and its grand. It’s when they jump on the bed with muddy paws…
Dogs shouldn’t be allowed in the house.
You shouldn’t be allowed in the house.
I love pure winter days.. really cold n frosty in d morn with the Sun in the afternoon.. Bliss
Perfect weather for getting out and climbing a few mountains.
Are you lot mental
No doubt they will be out in force, hill walkers I mean and the emergency services stretched to their limits once more.
With a hint of napalm in the mornings? lol.
I don’t find your comment funny, people can die on the mountains and families are left to deal with the heartbreak.
Currently climbing a mountain now.
Surprised you have coverage !
Yeah break / sprain your leg on the ice, needlessly call out rescue services & put more lives ar risk.
Sturdy set of boots and a modicum of cop on and you’ll be fine.
I would suggest Meindl boots.
Bit pricy. I paid €240 for mine 6 years ago but their going strong.
Snowball. You wont get that in Ireland slush, roads impassable, no sand, ask the Government and they will say “we are ready” the Hospitals will be even mire overcrowded with People falling.
A nice Spring day would suit better.
*more*
You musnt be having much fun on your hike if you’re on your phone checking out The Journal !!!
Thought the whole point of hiking was getting away from it all ???
Yeah but I was instagramming to prove I was climbing or else it would be a waste.
I believe that
Ya wouldn’t be long getting frostbit
Hopefully a cold snap will kill off the bugs making people sick
Bleedin bitter it is
Grand auld stretch in the evenings though
Its beginning to feel a bit like a New Year
And there will still be hero’s in shorts .
I already miss our 15 degrees winter.
If you were in Athlone you would not be saying that
Aurora Borealis?! At this time of year?!? In this part of the country!?
Located ENTIRELY in your kitchen?
Yes
May I see it?
No.
Steamed hams all round!
Too warm.
Minus 20 and we would have lovely ski slopes in Connemara.
Like Austria and Switzerland.
We are nearer the North Pole than they are.
Damned warm Atlantic is stopping us from having ski-slopes.
I read that as Adam West
Adam West is stopping you from having ski slopes?
So all that flood water is going to freeze? Next week special in Aldi, Ice skates just €20
Hopefully it will help dry the place up.
Weeeeee… O its frozen lol.
Wow…MINUS 5…is that like colder than minus 5.
This is exactly what is required and has been for a long time, as mild temperatures are the reason for the flooding…and yes it is January so it is still winter..doh!!
Second bellybutton weather guys!
Stibby ??
Ahhhh got you now!!
At least it will be dry!
IN JANUARY?
Should be March / April time lol.
Roll on “Jasus it’s freezin’ but at least it’s dry”
Let it go let it gooo hahahaha
Elsa are you at it again !!
Basted Fianna fáil
Its Ireland we’re living in. This is normal January weather. If you expect anything else you’re living in the wrong country.
I blame the Government !
Irish weather – no idea how ye stick it. Nice & warm here today in Brisbane. About 28°C I’d say. Can’t handle the cold any more.
Time for a trip to the canaries,I’ve alway said it ,”if the canaries were only an hours flight away,and had the same good weather, there’d be no one left in Ireland ” damp arthritis that goes with living in this country.
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