Promoter Gets Soviet OK for Concerts During Festival

A Russian rock band will perform in San Diego this month despite objections from Soviet arts festival organizers, including Mayor Maureen O’Connor.

Using international shuttle diplomacy, concert promoter Don Hughes booked the rock band Vladimir Kuzmin and Dinamik to play during the festival.

The appearance by the band had been challenged by festival officials, who cited an oral agreement with the Soviet Ministry of Culture to give organizers authority to approve all Soviet performers in San Diego during the festival, which will be held Oct. 21-Nov. 11.

‘Riding the Coattails’

O’Connor, who is president of the festival board of directors, has said she does not want commercial promoters “riding the coattails” of the nonprofit festival’s advertising efforts.

Hughes, whose independent presentation of the Red Army Choir during the festival was also in doubt until a recent resolution, traveled to the Soviet Union last week and secured exit permits for the band. Before his trip, Hughes also secured the band’s American visas.

“The Soviet Union is no longer the totalitarian regime it was,” Hughes said in a statement released Monday. “ Glasnost and perestroika are clearly making their mark on all aspects of business, and there, just as here, there is now some freedom of choice. Numerous organizations that we deal with have the right to grant exit permits.”

Hughes, who recently opened an office in Moscow, said he relied on contacts outside the Ministry of Culture to help secure the permits. Hughes’ International Attractions will team with Scott Pedersen of Scottland Concerts to present seven concerts by the Soviet band Oct. 26-31.

Won’t Pursue Matter

Pedersen traveled to the Soviet Union in April to book the band. When he returned, he received a telegram from Soviet authorities instructing him to cancel the concerts because of “contractual obligations with the festival organizing committee.”

The mayor’s press spokesman, Paul Downey, said Monday that festival organizers will not pursue the matter.

“At this point, we’re not going to do anything to stop them,” he said. “The mayor just wants to emphasize that they are not part of the festival in any way, shape or form. They are a profit-making group and aren’t doing anything for the young people of San Diego.”

However, Pedersen said the band will give a free concert at Poway High School on Oct. 27 and that proceeds from five of the six other concerts will benefit local nonprofit organizations: the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art, the local chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Poway High School marching band, Sledgehammer Theatre and the local chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts, which is sponsoring an exhibit of Soviet poster art as part of the festival.

According to Pedersen, each of those groups except the art museum will receive all proceeds beyond the promoters’ nightly $10,000 break-even point. The museum will receive all of the proceeds from the Oct. 28 concert. Pedersen said the maximum gross for each concert is $13,850.

All six concerts will be held in the 500-seat Sherwood Auditorium at the La Jolla museum. Tickets are $25 and $30.