With less than a week before showtime, organizers of Rock for Barack are looking for a new venue.

The musical event — aimed at getting young people to vote early and to cast ballots for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama — is supposed to be held Saturday, but as of Monday, event organizers could not confirm where it will be held.

Rock for Barack is the brainchild of College of Santa Fe film student Mario Girard. He and fellow promoter Isaiah Rodriguez planned for Rock for Barack to be a multiday musical festival at The Downs at Santa Fe.

When that proved too daunting, the College of Santa Fe was chosen as the new venue for the event, which is slated to feature local bands, national DJs and free rides to early-polling places.

Lynne Canning, an Obama supporter who has taken over much of the planning for the event, said Monday that several issues, including scheduling and cost, have caused her to scrap the College of Santa Fe plan.

The Pub and Grill at the Santa Fe Brewing Company off N.M. 14 is the proposed new location. But Pub and Grill owner Justin Young said that plan is still "tenuous."

County Land Use Administrator Jack Kolkmeyer said the Pub and Grill would need a special permit to host the event.

Canning and Young will meet with county officials to address fire and traffic planning issues today. But Kolkmeyer said organizers have yet to submit a formal permit application.

Young said he agreed to Canning's proposal to hold the event at the Pub and Grill because he wanted to help, but he is starting to have doubts that a permit can be obtained before Saturday.

"I'm not terribly positive about this thing happening," Young said, "but we'll see."

Rodriguez — one of the promoters who booked acts for the Santa Fe Muzik Fest last summer — said he's not sure what will happen if Rock for Barack can't be held at the Pub and Grill.

"There is always the option of going somewhere else, but on that kind of timeline, it would be very difficult," he said. "This is the final week before the show."

Canning said she's not giving up yet. "I think it's a great idea, a great event," she said. "I just keep taking it a day at a time. The goal is to get out the 19- to 30-year-old voters."

Rodriguez said a Friday night pre-party featuring DJ Nu-Mark of the band Jurassic 5 is still slated to be held at the College of Santa Fe's student union building. But College of Santa Fe student-services coordinator Yorgun Marcel said organizers still haven't signed a contract committing to renting the space.

Rock for Barack is not affiliated with the official Obama campaign, but organizers are working with the political-action committee Music for Democracy on the project.

Contact Phaedra Haywood at 986-3068 or phaywood@sfnewmexican.com.