New York Attorney General Letitia James has sued the organizers of Evolutions Festival, accusing them of failing to refund more than $260,000 collected from ticket buyers and vendors after the 2025 event was canceled days before it was scheduled to begin.
The lawsuit, announced Tuesday, names Evolutions Festival, 845 Vibrations LLC, and organizers Michael and Justin Brown. James is seeking restitution for consumers and vendors, civil penalties, and restrictions on the organizers hosting future cultural events in New York.
The three-day electronic dance music and arts festival was scheduled for Sept. 5-7, 2025, at the Sugar Mountain Performing Arts Center in Caneadea, Allegany County.
According to the attorney general’s office, organizers collected $243,158 in advance ticket sales from 521 people who purchased 1,157 tickets. Ticket prices ranged from about $200 to more than $700, with additional charges available for camping, parking, transportation, and other services.
Organizers also collected $21,662 in advance fees from 28 businesses planning to participate in the festival’s vendor area. Vendor fees ranged from $650 to $1,150.
On Aug. 26, 2025, 10 days before the festival was scheduled to begin, organizers announced on social media that the event was being postponed. They said the venue had not secured required permits.
The attorney general’s office alleges the organizers did not provide refunds after the cancellation. Eleven ticket buyers reportedly recovered their money after disputing charges through their credit card companies.
Vendors also were left without refunds, according to the lawsuit.
“Concertgoers and vendors who spend their hard-earned money in New York should know that my office has their back,” James said. “Arts and culture are a cornerstone of what draws people to our great state.”
James alleges the organizers violated New York’s Arts and Cultural Affairs Law by failing to keep advance ticket revenue in escrow or provide other required financial protections. State law requires refunds when covered performances are canceled or rescheduled.
The lawsuit seeks restitution for ticket buyers and vendors, along with $5,000 in civil penalties for each of 1,185 alleged violations of the state’s General Business Law.
James is also seeking an order requiring the organizers to post a $500,000 performance bond before hosting future cultural events in New York.
