Phish thrown for a curve, cancels music fest

Time passed slowly, the scheduled 2 p.m. opening was pushed back with no definitive answer of when the main venue would be open to the public. Still, fans waited.

Attendees discussed rumors of the ritual full-band soundcheck, supposedly taking place around 4 p.m., while debating the location of the weekend’s secret set.

Some diehard Phish fans, commonly known as phans, had managed to make it inside the venue and believed the massive reflective sphere, officially dubbed Big Silver, to be the site of a surprise Saturday night performance.

But every rumor, whisper and prediction were quelled at 5 p.m. when the real surprise arrived.

Curveball was canceled.

The New York State Department of Health and Schuyler County reported flooding in the area from the past week had contaminated the local water treatment plant and made the supply, including the water in Watkins Glen, unsafe for consumption.

Festival-saving measures and options had been explored, but for the sake of public health and safety, the state department said it could not issue the required permits for Curveball to continue.

Two phans inside the main venue, Keith Glover and Spencer Bielewicz, were among the first people to see the news of the cancellation.

Glover, a 24-year-old veteran phan with 106 shows under his belt since Phish’s 2009 return, flew in from Colorado to attend Curveball.

“I can’t believe that this is what’s happening,” Glover said. “If they were to reschedule, I don’t think I’d even be able to come back out here.”

Bielewicz, a fellow young diehard, was in disbelief at the news and noted the irony of the festival’s namesake.

“That’s the curveball,” Bielewicz said. “Everyone is going home.”

The band was equally saddened by the cancellation of the festival and released an official statement on their website moments after the state department report.

“Our families are here, our gear is set, our tents are up. We keep waiting for someone to come over and tell us that there is a solution, and that the festival can go on,” the band said in the press release. “Unfortunately, it is not possible.”

The mutual heartbreak between Curveball attendees and the band became visible outside of the venue as some fans broke down in tears as they processed the news of the cancellation.

For other fans, however, there was newfound resolve in the wake of the day’s tragedy.

Curveball campers throughout The Glen had to be off the property by noon the next day, giving many of those planning on an overnight stay 18 hours to make the best of a bad situation.

While some caravans began departing at sunset, the party was just starting for the rest of the Curveball campers.

Many embraced the time left at The Glen, starting impromptu ditch parties along the dirt roads and laughing alongside newly made friends.

KC & The Sunshine Band’s “Keep It Comin’ Love” could be heard from one campsite, serving as a soundtrack for festival faithfuls passing by to sing and dance with.

Parties throughout The Glen continued onward until 6 a.m. before fans stopped to nap, pack up their belongings and leave the campgrounds.

Revised plans to camp elsewhere, donate surplus supplies and await the next Phish performance bookended an otherwise unfortunate turn of events for festivalgoers.

The band’s final Summer 2018 tour stop is slated for Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Colorado before launching a fall trek Oct. 16-17 at Albany’s Times Union Center.