This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Business News Live Business Top Stories
Day three of New York EDM festival cancelled after drug deaths
By Chris Cooke | Published on Monday 2 September 2013
The third day of New York dance festival Electric Zoo was cancelled yesterday after two deaths during the first 48 hours of the fifth edition of the annual event. It is thought the two deaths and four other festival-goers becoming critically ill was all drugs related.
The New York authorities seemingly moved to shut down the third day of the event, due to include sets by the likes of Armin van Buuren, Diplo and Chase & Status, after the two fatalities were confirmed.
A statement issued by the New York City Mayor’s office said: “During the first two days of the Electric Zoo music festival, two concert-goers have died and at least four others became critically ill and have been placed in intensive care at area hospitals. Definitive causes of death have not yet been determined, however, both appear to have involved the drug MDMA (ecstasy or molly)”.
The event’s promoter, Made Event, said that it made the decision to cancel day three of its festival with city officials. In an online statement that has temporarily replaced the Electric Zoo website, the promoter said: “The founders of Electric Zoo send our deepest condolences to the families of the two people who passed away this weekend. Because there is nothing more important to us than our patrons, we have decided in consultation with the New York City Parks Department that there will be no show today”.