The New York region is an inhospitable place for music festivals. This weekend,  it’s unknown as to whether All Points West will overcome the manifold hurdles ahead of it.

APW debuted last year. Though it didn’t make a profit, it did pull in 75,000 people. This year’s line-up includes the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, Vampire Weekend, Tool, Neko Case and Coldplay. Jay-Z is also on the bill, replacing the Beastie Boys due to member Adam Yauch’s recent cancer diagnosis.

But a golden lineup does not guarantee the success of a festival, especially just outside a city of perpetual hot-ticket shows. New York has a curse of failed festivals because of cost, logistics and an over-saturated market. Equipment is pricey, residents don’t like the noise, and as promoter Ron Delsner put it, “There’s no land, baby.”

There also won’t be any camping options at APW even though it’s being held in a New Jersey state park. There is a limit of seven drinks per person per day, and the round-trip ferry ride costs $25.  

This year’s success could determine whether the festival sees its third year. [New York Times]