STONINGTON, CT (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — As the Eastern seaboard prepares for the wrath of Hurricane Irene, venues are planning for dissappointed fans and rescheduled shows.
Set to hit the east coast this weekend, Hurricane Irene may follow a number of tracks, and could pass through coastal areas in North Carolina on Saturday on its way toward the greater New York City area by Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center. On Thursday, Irene was a Category 3 hurricane with wind speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour.
After the two storm related festival disasters last week at the Indiana State Fair and Pukkelpop in Belgium, with seven and five deaths, respectively, it comes as no suprise that venues are being extra cautious during the calm before the storm.
Ahead of the storm, a number of east coast concerts and festivals have been canceled. We've compiled a list of affected events:
Kenny Chesney's Augusth 28th show at Gilette Stadium in Foxboro has been pushed up to Friday, August 26th.
The Bill Medley, Paul Revere & The Raiders show on August 27th at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury has been canceled.
ZZ Top's NYCB Theatre gig on Sunday has ambitiously been moved to Monday August 29th.
Members of ZZ Top commented "Coming from Houston as we do, deep in the heart of hurricane alley, we're certainly attuned to the perils that Irene might beget. We're more than happy to give her an extra day to pass to ensure our fans can safely make it out to see us and we can say "Hello Westbury and Goodnight Irene."
DMB Caravan at Governors Island in New York has canceled two of the three days of the festival – Saturday and Sunday. As of now, Friday is still a go.
The Afropunk Festival in Brooklyn for Saturday and Sunday is cancelled/postponed.
the Rib Rock Festival, featuring The J. Geils Band, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Gary Clarke Jr., scheduled for the 27th at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater in New York and 28th at the PNC Bank Arts Center in New Jersey have been cancelled.
DMB Caravan at Governors Island in New York – Saturday and Sunday have been cancelled/postponed. They say Friday the 26th (it's a 3 day event) will happen.
Afropunk Festival in Brooklyn for Saturday and Sunday is cancelled/postponed. (Apparently the city, New York, has pulled all permits for outdoor events for Saturday and Sunday.)
The inaugural Silopanna Music Festival, set for August 27th in Crownsville Maryland and headlined by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Matt & Kim, Trombone Shorty and Fitz and the Tantrums has been called off.
The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival show at Tompkins Square Park on Sunday has been called off. As of now, Saturday is still on for the event.
August 28th's Summerstage event in Central Park has been called off. The show was the final Summerstage concert for the year and had a bill that included Jagged Edge, Avant and Melanie Fiona.
East Coast Surfing Championships has canceled all activities, musical entertainment and non-surfing sporting events for Saturday and Sunday, including Saturday's concert by Donavon Frankenreiter.
Hampton, Virgnia's Summer Street Festival's Vinyl Headlights concert has been canceled.
Pat Benetar's Aug. 27th & 28th gigs at Busch Gardens Williamsburg have been canceled.
Big Joe & The Dynaflows set for Saturday, Aug. 27 at the Jewish Mother in Virginia Beach has been postponed until October but a Felice Brothers gig on Friday is still on.
Norfolk's Latino Music Festival set for Saturday has been canceled.
Singer-Songwriter Ron Fetner's Aug. 27 show at the Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library in Virginia Beach has been called off.
Styx performance at the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset, Mass. on Sunday, Aug 28, has been cancelled.
Mary Chapin Carpenter performance Friday at the Sandler Center in Virginia Beach has been rescheduled for Oct. 6.
Also in Virginia Beach, the Funk Fest Saturday events are canceled.
If your venue or artist has a show that has been affected by Hurricane Irene, drop us a line to be included in the list. – Crystal Lynn Huntoon & Ian Courtney
