Organizers have announced the cancellation of the Kickoff Jam, a new country music festival that was scheduled to take place from August 30 to September 1 in Panama City Beach, Florida. The decision comes as organizers believe there is a more suitable date for hosting the event.
The festival, which was to feature performances by high-profile artists such as Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, and Alabama, was planned for Frank Brown Park. Alabama was set to headline the opening night on August 30, with a special appearance by country legend Randy Travis. Other artists slated for the opening included Jamey Johnson, Tyler Farr, Gavin Adcock, Pam Tillis, and Catie Offerman.
On August 31, Carrie Underwood was to headline, supported by performances from NEEDTOBREATHE, Lauren Alaina, Restless Road, Carter Faith, and Kayley Green. The festival’s final night on September 1 was to be headlined by Garth Brooks, with The Oak Ridge Boys, Randy Houser, Rhett Akins, Mackenzie Carpenter, and Allie Colleen also performing.
The Kickoff Jam was being organized by the same producers behind the Gulf Coast Jam, with ticket prices ranging from $299 to $1,399 for a three-day pass. However, organizers now believe that the weekend following Memorial Day is a more advantageous time for a country music festival.
“Kickoff Jam, the multi-artist country music festival originally scheduled for August 30 – September 1 at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach, Florida, has been canceled,” read a statement on the festival’s official website.
“After the success of Gulf Coast Jam this past weekend in Panama City Beach, we realized the weekend after Memorial Day is a much better time to host a festival,” the producers explained. “So we are going to cancel Kickoff Jam and provide refunds.”
The cancellation raises questions about the potential impact of poor ticket sales. With the average concert ticket price reaching a record high in the first quarter of 2024, there may be signs of consumer fatigue regarding multi-day events. This trend is underscored by the fact that this year, for the first time, Coachella had tickets available directly from Goldenvoice beyond the initial day of sales.
Additionally, there have been notable tour cancellations from major artists like Jennifer Lopez and The Black Keys, prompting speculation about a broader slowdown in the live music industry. While it is still early to determine the full extent of this trend, the cancellation of Kickoff Jam adds to the concerns.
Related topics:
5 Largest Country Music Festival
Top 5 Richest Country Music Stars
How Country Music Affects The Brain