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It’s the day the music died!
The beloved Siren Music Festival, a decade-old free rock show that annually raged on Coney Island, is being moved out of the People’s Playground to neighboring borough. The Village Voice, the Manhattan-based newspaper that sponsored the event, announced the river-crossing on its website Thursday night.
Worse, the day of music is changing its name, and will now be held at (hold your nose) … the South Street Seaport.
“I’m shocked to hear this!” exclaimed Dick Zigun, who runs the Coney Island sideshow. “This sucks, the Siren Festival is such a Coney Island brand.”
The Village Voice could not be reached for comment and the online press release only indicates that it has rechristened the show the “4Knots Music Festival,” whatever that means.
“Siren had a fantastic 10-year run, but the 4 Knots Festival will replace it on the Voice’s summer-show docket,” reads the Village Voice’s website. “Embrace change!”
That’s a hard nut to swallow for Coney Island lovers — who’ve seen their beloved entertainment district live through more up and downs during the past few years than there are on its signature ride, the Cyclone roller coaster.
Last month, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus decided to fold up its tents after a two-year run along the Boardwalk. But the new Luna Park, which opened on the site of the former Astroland, has been a runaway hit.
But that doesn’t soften the blow for locals who loved the event.
“We’re sure going to miss them,” said Community Board 13 District Manager Chuck Reichenthal. Reichenthal. “I don’t know why they made this change.”
This isn’t the first music shake-up for Coney Island’s new season, which kicks off Saturday. Earlier this month city announced it will move Borough President Markowitz’s summer concert series from Asser Levy Park to a new venue after a lawsuit claimed the controversial festival violated city noise rules.
©2011 Community Newspaper Group
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