An event in the making was smothered while taking its first steps last Saturday, as a ranger from the US Forest Service tamped down the Rockin the Redwoods concert before it even got underway. Citing concerns of fire safety and the need for a special use permit, the several day set up for the event turned out to be all for naught.

The show’s Instagram profile made its first post on July 5th, promoting a lineup of 9 local artists from various genres. Since then, the event had created its own merchandise and had a guerilla stage set up in the hills on Old Gasquet Toll Road. 15 people were at the site helping to set up decorations and the security border when the ranger stopped by to squash the show, having arrived just after the local band Radio Rice finished their sound check. 

Several people had been drinking up to this point, creating an unsafe environment for the return trip down the mountain, with several large trailers needing to be moved as quickly as possible out of the area. The road itself was a sketchy climb, with many saying “I hope I don’t crash on my way back down.”

Overall, this cancellation of the Rockin the Redwoods event seems to be a symptom of local law enforcement having little to do but stamp out youth counterculture when and wherever they can.