Two Country music festivals in California and the Kickoff Jam in Florida have been canceled this year.
Is it time to sound the alarm bells? Are fans getting FESTIVAL FATIGUE? Promoters and artists are starting to wonder.
The Kickoff Jam in Florida was originally announced back in April, and was scheduled for a three day run (Friday August 30 to Sunday September 1) at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach. Carrie Underwood was locked in to headline Friday night’s party, while Garth Brooks would’ve led Saturday night, and Alabama would’ve wrapped things up on Sunday (with their set featuring a special appearance from Randy Travis).
Tickets for the Kickoff Jam ranged from $300 to $2,200 USD (or $454 to $3,330 AUD) and according to Country Living, general admission passes were sold out by May 4.
It’s kind of odd to cancel a sold show…but according to their Instagram post that was their new plan…
“After the success of Gulf Coast Jam [held May 30-June 2] this past weekend in Panama City Beach, we realized the weekend after Memorial Day is a much better time to host a festival,” Kickoff Jam producers stated in a post on the festival’s Instagram page. “So, we are going to cancel Kickoff Jam and provide refunds.”
One promoter said, “we might be seeing a market correction, but I don’t believe the bubble is bursting.” He thinks the solution is a “complete experience” that goes beyond just music.
Another key is to stack the lineup. A good headliner or headliners is one thing. You want the rest of the bill to stack up, too.
I personally feel people are running out of money and starting to hold back from going into more debt just to be in attendance at a show. They are picking and choosing what shows they actually want to spend their money on. It’s a good investment and not every festival/concert is a good investment.
Hillbilly Live! 