Hurricane Helene: Deadly storm hampers live events
High-profile festivals and concerts in the southeast of the US have been impacted by Hurricane Helene, which has claimed the lives of at least 107 people.
Festivals including South Star (Alabama) and Louder Than Life (Kentucky) were cut short, while concerts with Billy Joel and Sting (Missouri) and Hootie and the Blowfish (Florida) were postponed.
The inaugural edition of South Star was due to take place across the weekend (28–29 September) in Huntsville, Alabama, but C3 Presents was forced to call off the second day due to the hurricane.
Sunday’s lineup included Blink-182, Beck, Sublime, Goo Goo Dolls, Jimmy Eat World, Big Boi and more.
According to a statement from the festival promoters, John Hunt Park was saturated before the festival started and Saturday’s foot traffic led to “severe deterioration” of the grounds.
“Following an inspection by festival organisers along with city officials, it has been determined that the grounds are no longer safe to welcome you back today,” reads the statement published on Sunday.
“In coordination with the City of Huntsville, we have made the difficult decision to cancel today’s festival… safety is paramount, and we do not take this decision lightly.”
Sunday day tickets and one-half of two-day tickets purchased directly through Front Gate Tickets will automatically be refunded in within 30 days, according to the promoters.
“Safety is paramount, and we do not take this decision lightly”
Louder Than Life, a four-day rock and alternative festival based in Louisville, Kentucky, also lost a day of programming due to the adverse weather.
Promoter Danny Wimmer Presents called off the second day (Friday 27 September) of the 10th edition due to 50-mile-per-hour winds and heavy rain.
“We’ve been working closely with our meteorologists and local authorities, holding on to the hope that we can open doors, but the continuous wind gusts simply make it impossible for us to proceed safely,” read a statement from the organisers.
“We know how disappointing this is — it’s gut-wrenching for us too. But your safety, along with the safety of our artists and crew, will always be our number one priority.”
Louder Than Life’s Friday lineup included performances by Slayer, Till Lindemann, Anthrax, Evanescence and In This Moment. Day ticket holders were invited to attend either Saturday or Sunday of the festival instead.
Elsewhere, Billy Joel and Sting’s concert at Busch Stadium (cap. 46,000) in St. Louis, Missouri, was rescheduled from Friday (27 September) to Sunday due to the inclement weather. Tickets remained valid.
“The safety of the fans, artists, crew, and staff is paramount. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding,” said Live Nation in a statement.
Live Nation was also forced to postpone a concert with Hootie & The Blowfish at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheater (20,000) in Tampa, Florida, from Thursday to Sunday.
Three days after Hurricane Helene tore through the US southeast, the death toll has hit 107 lives in six states, according to the Associated Press.
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C3 Presents plans ‘nostalgic pop and rock’ festival
C3 Presents plans to launch a new two-day festival in Huntsville, Alabama, this September.
South Star festival will debut between 28–29 September at John Hunt Park, also known as the ‘Central Park’ of Huntsville.
Huntsville hasn’t hosted a large-scale music festival since the Big Spring Jam in 2011, which brought artists including Destiny’s Child, Taylor Swift and Wilco to the city.
“This a win-win for Huntsville as well as the region,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. “This is a great opportunity to work with a world-class festival producer to bring a world-class event to a world-class park. We can’t wait to see the lineup.”
Huntsville hasn’t hosted a large-scale music festival since the Big Spring Jam in 2011
While the lineup is yet to be announced, social media posts promise punters “nostalgic pop & rock anthems” and C3 Presents’ Ted Heinig told local press that South Star could be compared to the promoter’s Shakey Knees festival, which this year features the Foo Fighters, Bill Idol, Queens of the Stone Age and Arcade Fire.
“Festivals that are really successful right now are focused top-to-bottom and they’re super-serving their fans with all of the artists they like,” Heinig told AL.com.
The C3 Presents festival director has also addressed South Star’s clash with two highly anticipated college football games, adding “We have a strategy to blend football with the music”.
“SEC country takes football season seriously and so do we. Post up with a beer, good eats and friends to watch the big games at our giant sports bar,” reads a section of the website.
C3 Presents’ festival portfolio also includes Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo, as well as newer offerings Minnesota Yacht Club, Sick New World and Two Step Inn.
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