Those who love New Rock may have had some of their plans for the upcoming month shattered. X-Fest, which was scheduled for Sept. 16at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, was cancelled due to a lack of ticket sales.
X-Fest, which is a product of the radio station 103.9 The X, has been in Dayton since 1996. This year, the lineup was supposed to include Seether, Sick Puppies, 10 Years, Dropkick Murphys, Filter, Pop Evil, Falling In Reverse, Kyng, Young Guns and Dangerkids. However, as of Aug. 28, the show has ground to a halt.
Although tickets are refundable, another option has opened up for those who want to travel a little farther to see some of the artists. The same day that X-Fest was cancelled, Bogart’s, a concert venue in Cinncinatti, announced that they would be hosting Seether, Sick Puppies, Young Guns and Kyng on Sept. 16 instead. Tickets for this event went on sale on Friday Aug. 31, with a promise that those who had already purchased X-Fest tickets would be able to turn in their tickets beginning on Aug. 29 for a limited time.
The cancellation of X-Fest may be a reflection of the radio station which hosts it, 103.9 The X. Recently, The X underwent a change that converted it from a new rock to a new rock plus pop radio station.
“They’re a little faster and more mainstream for the new generation, and that’s the kind of stuff that we like to listen to. If we want to listen to classics, we listen to the other stations, like 102.7, 104.7 and 96.5,” student Jason West said.
While the station does have good qualities, it also has some cited downfalls. “I wish they would stop playing fun.,” student Lon Bitner said.
Apparently, many other people are feeling the same. 103.9’s Facebook page, besides being clogged with opinions about the cancellation of
X-Fest, is peppered with people’s new found disdain in the station’s changes. While most people specifically cited the overplaying of artists such as fun. and No Doubt, there is the definite feel that the radio station has changed in a way that listeners do not appreciate.
103.9 The X claims that it is a New Rock station. Clear Channel, the entertainment company which owns 103.9, now lists Dayton’s 103.9 as an alternative station.
Although a representative at 103.9 could not be reached for comment, it is odd that this seemingly popular event has taken such a turn. The event was cancelled the day after school began at Wright State, meaning that, although the tickets could be bought online, WSU students were essentially cut out of the picture. There was no chance for students to meet up with old friends after the summer, discuss the possibility of going to the concert and buy the tickets. For this year, the best that an X-Fest fan can do is travel to Cincinnati for a taste of what would have been X-Fest and hope that this 16-year-old Dayton tradition has not come to an end.
