Better in theory than execution?

The Mana Poly All-Stars rocked The Sidecar Saturday night for the Orion Music Festival, creating a relaxed, fun-filled atmosphere while driving a packed bar — that is, until midnight.

To the surprise of bartenders and patrons alike, the affable band quit their banter and pulled the cord an hour before last-call. They weren’t getting paid anyway, they explained, and they’d played enough for free. The Sidecar reportedly hadn’t received payment for use of their venue either, prompting questions of where attendees’ ticket dollars went. The next day, Orion founders took their money mysteries a step further, posting a donation button on their home page.

The online plea didn’t last long.

“Warning - do not donate,” read the Facebook wall of Hilary Reiter, the Festival’s publicity manager. “It does not indicate what your money will go to. This music fesitval is NOT a non-profit organization, and money donated will likely be used to pay debts.” Reiter, who had also worked without payment for several weeks, had tired of the organization’s front. Threatening to approach the Better Business Bureau, Orion backed off and removed the button.

Thankfully, the unfortunate management of the Orion Music Festival in its pilot year failed to overshadow the many talented performers throughout the week, some of whom hailed from as far away as Australia. Utah native Nicole “Kole” Hansen Christiansen made an impact on audiences, introducing a song to promote Haiti relief efforts, while Florida-based Joshua Stedham and New York songstress Kaydi Johnson brought unique talent to Park City’s Main Street.

Kaydi Johnson

Good, bad or shady, Orion lured Park Citizens out on the town — while leaving room for improvement.

What was your take on the Orion Music Festival?