A popular music festival that’s been held northeast of Edmonton for several years will have to find a new venue – after officials in Sturgeon County voted to put an end to the festival.

Thousands of music lovers have attended the Boonstock Music Festival, held in a field near Gibbons annually for nine years.

However, the president of the festival learned the news Tuesday that the members of Sturgeon County Council had voted unanimously against the event.

“You work nine hard years, blood, sweat and tears, creating a family, an organization. Learning the news this morning is a tough pill to swallow for sure,” Boonstock President Colin Kobza said.

The move by council came after the county received a number of complaints from area residents, along with police and health officials, over the festival.

“Every resident has a fundamental right to be safe and secure in their own homes, and your event has removed that right,” Councillor Karen Shaw said in Tuesday’s council meeting.

“They’re living in fear,” Councillor Joe Milligan said in the meeting. “You don’t invite Hells Angels to your backyard barbecue, it’s more than you can handle.”

Kobza said county safety regulations were followed.

“If you talk to Big Valley [Jamboree], Coachella, there are issues and challenges that come with every festival,” Kobza said.

Another councillor said the festival had been good for the county, until recently.

“Up until this year it was well received in Sturgeon County, and it did help put us on the map,” Councillor Donald McGeachy said.

Although the vote was unanimous, not all members of council supported the decision – the mayor said the festival’s president didn’t get a fair hearing, the mayor singled out two councilors.

“Clearly both Councillors Flynn and Shaw put a bias on the record, and I think that’s unfair and an embarrassment to Sturgeon County,” Mayor Donald Rigney said, although when asked why he supported the motion, he said: “You have to make a decision based on the evidence in front of you at the time.”

For Kobza, although the festival’s days are over in that county, he’s committed to finding another place for the event to put down roots again.

“I think there are some big things on the horizon for Boonstock,” Kobza said.

With files from Ashley Molnar