New York Attorney General Letitia James has sued the organizers of a canceled Allegany County music festival, alleging they kept more than $264,000 collected from ticket buyers and vendors without providing promised refunds. The three-day Evolutions Festival was called off 10 days before its planned September 2025 opening in Canadea, according to the attorney general's lawsuit announcement.
The state is seeking restitution for ticket holders and vendors, civil penalties and an order barring the promoters from staging future New York events unless they post a $500,000 bond. The defendants are Evolutions Festival LLC, 845 Vibrations LLC and organizers Michael and Justin Brown. The claims are allegations in a civil lawsuit, not findings by a court.
More than 500 buyers purchased tickets
Tickets went on sale March 20, 2025, for roughly $200 to more than $700, with camping, parking and transportation available as add-ons. The attorney general's office says 521 people bought 1,157 tickets, generating $243,158.04 in advance sales. Another 28 small businesses paid $21,662.75 in vendor fees of $650 to $1,150 each.
The event was scheduled for Sept. 5-7, 2025, at the Sugar Mountain Performing Arts Center. Organizers announced Aug. 26 that it was being “postponed,” saying the venue had not secured necessary permits, according to the state. The attorney general's office says the festival did not offer refunds after the cancellation. Eleven ticket buyers received refunds by disputing charges with their credit card companies.
The state also described a Rochester-area small business owner who paid more than $1,200 for a vendor booth. She was notified of the cancellation six days before the event and was told refund requests would be processed quickly, but the office says she was not repaid. The investigation began after consumer complaints.
State seeks restitution and penalties
James alleges the organizers violated New York law by failing to keep advance ticket money in escrow or provide other required financial protection. The attorney general's office says ticket purchasers are entitled to refunds when a performance is canceled or rescheduled.
The complaint seeks full restitution for purchasers and vendors and $5,000 in civil penalties for each of 1,185 alleged violations of the state's General Business Law. It also asks a court to require a $500,000 performance bond before the organizers could hold another cultural event in New York.
The festival had been held in 2024 and was promoted as a larger event in 2025. The attorney general's release did not state when the lawsuit would next be heard or include a response from the defendants.
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