Grateful Dead-centric Ventura, CA festival Skull and Roses, which features Dead cover bands and more on its lineup, was scheduled to return for its sixth edition on April 19-21 at Ventura County Fairgrounds, but it’s been cancelled just over a week before it was to begin. A statement from festival founder Chris Mitrovich cites “the financial devastation of the 2023,” saying it “made it impossible to sustain the weight of the new production.” The statement, which you can read below, also emphasizes that “tickets and hotels were sold on a non-refundable basis,” and that they they “wish that funds were available to refund all purchases.” “Unfortunately,” they continue, “this is simply not the case at this time.”
Speculating about other factors contributing to the cancellation, some ticketholders on social media pointed to pricey hotel rooms and Phish’s Las Vegas Sphere shows happening the same weekend, as well as Dead & Company’s upcoming run at the same venue.
The festival’s 2024 lineup was to have featured Dark Star Orchestra, Sage & Spirits, Melvin Seals & JGB, Stu Allen & Mars Hotel, Jerry’s Middle Finger, Garcia Grisman Revisited, Cubensis, Joe Marcinek‘s Dead Funk Summit, Zach Nugent‘s Dead Set, Electric Waste Band, Hyryder, Marcus Rezak Band, Brown Eyed Women, Grateful Dead Hour host David Gans, and more. See the poster below.
In response to the news, Bay Area band Moonalice said they’d give Skull & Roses ticketholders free entry to their San Francisco Bay Area shows over 4/20 weekend. “Skull & Roses was a fantastic festival and we were lucky to play there many times,” the band’s Roger McNamee said. “The festival and its fans deserved a much happier ending. We think the right thing to do is give folks who had S&R tickets free entry to our shows on April 18, 19, and 20.” Find more details here.
STATEMENT FROM SKULL & ROSES’ CHRIS MILTROVICH
Re: …Feelin’ Bad
With deep sorrow I must inform you that SKULL & ROSES 6 has been canceled. In all transparency, the financial devastation of the 2023 show made it impossible to sustain the weight of the new production.
We have maintained hope and exhausted every imaginable possibility, right up to this very moment. It has now become clear, however, that we have reached the end of the line. All the cards are down and there’s nothing left to see.
This is not a choice, the decision has been made for us. Had we known (or stopped fighting) sooner, we would have let you know then. Please know that is the truth. We feel exactly the same way that you do, in every regard.
Words cannot tell how much we appreciate your undying dedication and extreme connection with this show. We don’t know what the future holds. Please accept my most sincere apologies for the troubles this message will cause.
Gratefully,
Chris Miltrovich, Founder
Skull & RosesREFUNDS: While tickets and hotels were sold on a non-refundable basis, we sincerely wish that funds were available to refund all purchases. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case at this time. Additional information will be provided just as soon as it becomes available and will be posted through our socials and at www.SKULLANDROSES.com
