LoveOly Summer Fest event became a target of booking scam

Event organizers were shocked to learn that they failed to book this week’s main act, singer and guitarist Jonathan Richman, and instead became a target of a booking scam.

LoveOly Summer Fest is a street festival that’s been held every weekend in Downtown Olympia this summer. For the Sat., Aug. 28 event, organizers Olympia Film Society (OFS) and the Downtown Alliance had invited singer and guitarist, Jonathan Richman to headline the closing event.

Unfortunately, there will be no Richman. Instead, organizers learned that they became a target of an elaborate booking scam.

In a press release, the organizers revealed that they have received a phone call from someone who claimed to be Richman. The person who pretended to be the singer expressed his interest to perform at the festival.

Executive Director of the OFS Audrey Henley expressed her disbelief, “We are shocked that this happened. We’ve been booking bands for the past 30 years, and this is a first for us.” Henley hoped that the incident, “does not in any way hurt our relationship with the real Jonathan Richman and that he will return to Olympia soon.”

Executive Director of the Olympia Downtown Alliance Todd Cutts also extended an apology to the singer, “We are upset this happened, and we extend our apologies to the real Jonathan Richman and to all of his fans who were hoping to see him again.”

Fortunately, Richman, who founded the musical group Modern Lovers in 1970, said that no apologies were needed. In a statement, the singer wrote, “Hello everyone! This is the real Jonathan Richman! I just heard of your wonderful festival, and it sounds like an ideal place for me to play someday. No hard feelings on my part and no apologies necessary from the wonderful people at OFS who have invited me and Tommy up to play so many times.”

The singer even poked fun at the situation, “Did the guy who called you up manage to imitate my voice pretty good? Cuz if he did, you've got to hand it to him; most people can't do it! But seriously, now for just a second, I am sad for any disappointments and expenses caused to the Film Society and the fine people of Olympia. Of course, I will come back to play for the Olympians!”

For the upcoming event, local musical band Oh, Rose will now perform in place of Richman.