hhmmmmmm…I like the image in 2 but I like the upcoming events area in 1. 2 is a little easier to read. BUt 1 entices a mood a lil more. I guess you can say 1 is more emotional. I have to go with 1. Since I believe people should experience the web and a page (usually) should invoke a feeling.
The mood and feel of the page is more emphazised then in the 2nd one. It is harder to read, so it really depends who your target audience is. If your aiming for young adults, then stick with 1, otherwise go for 2.
Definitely number 2. I don’t like the background tile in the first one at all. Makes it too dark and jarring. You also have trouble reading the date text against a similar colour background.