Kid Rock cancels multiple tour dates due to artists dropping out.
Kid Rock has made the decision to cancel a number of shows on his Rock the Country tour following the withdrawal of several artists from the lineup. According to Anderson County, S.C. officials, the two-day festival originally scheduled for July 25 and 26 will not be happening as planned. The decision to call off the shows was communicated to authorities on the evening of February 5, although no specific reason was given for the unexpected cancellation.
One of the contributing factors to the cancellation of the South Carolina dates of the festival was the announcement made by the rock band Shinedown on Friday. In an Instagram statement, Shinedown expressed their belief that they have the ability to bring people together through the power of music and song, stating that their band’s purpose is to promote unity rather than divisiveness. As a result, they decided not to participate in the Rock the Country Festival, foreseeing that their decision might lead to conflicting opinions.
The departure of Shinedown is not isolated, as other bands have also opted out of the tour before it commences in May. Ludacris recently left the lineup due to a supposed mix-up, while Carter Faith, Morgan Wade, and Creed have similarly decided to part ways with the tour over the last month.
Despite the festival’s non-political nature, Kid Rock and other headliners, like Jason Aldean, have openly supported President Donald Trump in the past. Recently, Kid Rock headlined Turning Point USA’s alternative Super Bowl halftime show alongside Brantley Gilbert following the NFL’s decision to have Bad Bunny perform — a musician who has voiced criticism against Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Although the S.C. dates have been canceled, the Rock the Country tour remains on track to launch in Bellville, Texas, on May 1. It will proceed to other locations like Bloomingdale, Ga., Sioux Falls, S.D., and Ashland, Ky. Noteworthy performers scheduled for the tour include Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, among others.