Kid Rocks festival as good as bankrupt after | Music News

Kid Rock could possibly be about to undergo another blow after his Rock the Country festival had to cancel one of its reveals.

With the lineup left with gaps, a deliberate stop in Anderson, South Carolina, had to be canceled. The show was scheduled for July 25, but ticketholders have now been told they will either attend a different location and get a $50 merchandise credit or search a full refund.

With the future of the festival left up in the air, music knowledgeable Steve Nixon has told The Express US Kid Rock’s show could possibly be at risk of turning into a “bankrupt tour.”

He explained, “When a show like Anderson gets scrapped, the financial hit is instant and vicious. In my work as a touring pianist, I have watched arena stages turn into money pits the moment a cancellation is made public.”

Steve continued, “Most people think the life of Kid Rock is simply sitting around and counting money, but the truth is that it results from non-refundable expenses. In my own experience, logistics for touring requires months of pre-payments for trucks, rigs, and crews.

“You pay those contracts even if the stage was always darkish because those employees blocked out their calendars. This is why a no-show date is a full drain of capital with no ticket or beer gross sales to stability the books.”

He ended his comments with a warning to Kid Rock, saying, “A stagnant tour is as good as a bankrupt tour.”

Steve’s comments come after Kid Rock’s upcoming festival was branded a MAGA event following his support of Donald Trump and his work with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Ludacris and Morgan Wade pulled out of the festival following the political criticism, with Shinedown and Jelly Roll then canceling their scheduled appearances.

The loss of performers led to the cancellation of the Anderson date. It’s caused a significant setback to the area’s local economy, as Rusty Burns, the Anderson County Administrator, pointed out how the festival has been a huge attraction in past years.

It’s previously drawn tens of thousands of attendees and generated a multi-million-dollar economic boost for Anderson County. Burns said, “Anderson County has been proud to host Rock the Country for the past two years. Of course, we’re upset that Rock the Country won’t return to Anderson this yr.”

Steve Nixon is a world-touring pianist who spoke to The Express US on behalf of Free Jazz Lessons.