SNOW RIDGE JAM FEST FIZZLES

TURIN — Despite high hopes, the first Snow Ridge Jam Fest was not as much of a success as organizers had expected it to be.

The three-day festival, which replaced the annual moe.down festival held at the Snow Ridge Ski Resort for the last decade, had 30 bands and brought in only about 1,000 people throughout the entire weekend.

On Sunday, only 30 concertgoers remained

"Festivals this year are down for everybody, though," resort manager Judith E. Sweeney said.

Moe.down, which this year moved its location to Gelston Castle Estate near Herkimer, brought in crowds of 6,000 to 7,000 people in recent years.

Dylan Ferris, Boonville, a past attendee at moe.down, said the music throughout the weekend was good, but the experience wasn't the same because of the lack of people.

"It's depressing to come here and see 100 people," he said.

Mr. Ferris said he plans to attend this year's moe.down festival.

Mrs. Sweeney reiterated that the decision to move moe.down was a mutual one between moe.down organizers and Snow Ridge Ski Resort.

The festival still managed to bring in other big-name artists, including Rusted Root and Donna the Buffalo.

A favorite of attendee Richard R. Beardsley, North Creek, was Railroad Earth, which played the main stage Friday morning.

Jam Fest boasted three stages this year, as well as some new additions: helicopter rides for concertgoers and hot showers for campers.

Organizers were surprised by how popular the helicopter rides were. Rides were offered by Adirondack Helicopters LLC of Utica.

Those still in attendance Sunday morning we were woken up by the Oswego-based House on a Spring. The nine-piece reggae group enjoyed being a wakeup call.

"I loved that we could wake people up this morning," keyboardist Joshua E. Russell said.

Mr. Russell, who attended the first three moe.down festivals in Turin, said the Jam Fest atmosphere was much more relaxed.

Organizers agreed.

"Moe.down had some intense security," Mrs. Sweeney said. "I think it turned some people away."

Set up throughout the Snow Ridge grounds were various vendor tents. Seven food vendors, including Dave's Mini Donuts of New Windsor and a Mediterranean falafel stand, were on hand. There also were eight merchandise vendors selling everything from hemp jewelry to tie-dyed clothing, crystals, ornamental glass window hangings and more.

"The music was good, the venue was good, the weather was great," said James C. Barker, Wormtown Trading Co., Easthampton, Mass.

He said the only thing missing was attendance.

Local act The Townies of Adams Center agreed.

"It's a good time. It really needs more support, though," guitarist Dustin W. Abrams said.

The band arrived at the festival Saturday afternoon and played Sunday at the onsite Candlelight Bar.

"It's sad for organizers," Mr. Beardsley said. "There's no people."

Mrs. Sweeney declined to say whether she thought Jam Fest would be held again next year.

"Right now, we're just focused on this year," she said.