Feds accuse jam-band concert impresario of promoting drug sales, seek seizure of live-music venue

[The Straight Story]

Feds accuse jam-band concert impresario of promoting drug sales, seek seizure of live-music venue

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Jimmy Tebeau figured a shuttered youth camp deep in the Missouri Ozarks would be the perfect venue for his Grateful Dead tribute band — and to host other touring musicians and thousands of free-spirited fans.

Since 2004, his 350-acre campground — named Camp Zoe — has featured performances from his own band, the Schwag, as well as top acts such as the Roots and Los Lobos.

But the music recently stopped at Zoe, and now the dreadlocked dad — once considered a savvy impresario among concert promoters and festival organizers in the lucrative improvisational music world— is accused of being a purveyor of an illicit drug scene.

The Zoe, located about 150 miles southwest of St. Louis, staged its last concert on Halloween of last year. The federal government sued Tebeau in November 2010, hoping to seize the campground and nearly $200,000 in profits from his Schwagstock concert series, when his own band performs.

http://www.cleveland.com/music/index.ssf/2011/07/feds_accuse_jam-band_concert_i.html

[mike_c]

1. because gawd forbid that folks can get together somewhere safe...

...and have a good time, dammit!

[Warren DeMontague]

2. Courtesy of the RAVE act, no doubt. Thanks a fucking lot, Biden.

Amazing, we have to slash social security and medicare, but we still have plenty of money for the stupid fucking drug war.