America’s River Roots Festival canceled major acts a month ahead of the five-day event, festival organizers announced in a Tuesday press release.
Weezer, Maren Morris, Mt. Joy and Janelle Monáe were slated to perform in four nights of headline concerts during the festival, but due to “difficult choices in a changing entertainment landscape,” the shows have been canceled.
“This decision allows us to focus even more on what our community has told us they value most: free and affordable experiences for people of all ages,” the festival told CityBeat in a statement on Wednesday.
Ticketholders for the main-stage concerts have been sent refund information, the statement said.
The headliner shows were set to be the only performances, other than the Spirit of America Gala, that required tickets. Tickets were priced at $79 per night, and with added fees, admission to one night of main-stage performances would run you about $98.
The festival’s four-night pass was more cost-effective, coming in at $225, plus about $47 in fees for admission to all the headliners.
America’s River Roots Festival will still feature live performances, but the national acts expected to draw in crowds have been eliminated.
The festival, which will happen along the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Covington and Newport from Oct. 8-12, is a kickoff to the United States’ 250th birthday. It’s a celebration of the region’s river culture and heritage, featuring everything from riverboat races to multicultural food offerings, bourbon, craft beer, artisan vendors and live music.
The cancellation comes after people expressed disappointment in expensive ticket prices on social media. Reddit users are now speculating that the cancellations are due to low ticket sales.
The festival did not answer questions about how many tickets were sold and whether ticket sales played a role in the cancellations.