Delaware’s Big Barrel country music festival cancelled
After just one year, the Big Barrel country music festival in Dover has been cancelled.
In a statement posted on the festival’s website, Big Barrel organizer Goldenvoice announced “the difficult decision to cancel Big Barrel Country Music Festival.” The statement went on to “sincerely apologize to all the people this decision affects: the fans, artists, industry partners, venue, City of Dover and State of Delaware; all of whom welcomed us with open arms for our inaugural festival in 2015.”
More than 30,000 country music fans attended last June’s inaugural country music festival, just one week after the fourth annual Firefly festival. Firefly drew about 90,000 fans to the Woodlands property on the grounds of Dover International Speedway. Big Barrel fans endured heavy rains and muddy conditions to enjoy acts like Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert.
Those who purchased tickets for Big Barrel 2016 will receive a full refund including service fees starting Monday, Feb. 1.
It’s unclear whether Delaware’s other country music festival, which also debuted last summer, will return this year. Delaware Junction Festival was held last August at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington.
Should Delaware Junction decide to call it quits, the loss of both country festivals would be a blow to what had been a burgeoning lineup of live music throughout the summer in Delaware.
Now, Firefly is once again Delaware’s only confirmed summer music festival. This year’s lineup includes Mumford & Sons, Florence & the Machine, Kings of Leon, and Deadmau5. Firefly will be held from June 16-19.
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