Bike ’N’ Roll Festival Postponed

Plans to host the second Bike ’N’ Roll Fest at Lake Odessa, Mich., June 9-11 and Madison, Wis., June 16-18 have been postponed because of a lack of funds.

On the festival’s website, promoter Rivertown Live announced May 26 the event has been postponed until Sept. 2-3 “due to scheduling conflicts.” However, Rivertown Live’s VP of Operations John Kunz told WZZM-TV the cause was the loss of much-needed funding.

“We were totally with deposits due. The artists did all they could. It’s not their fault,” Kunz told WZZM. “It was money that we counted on through sponsorships and unfortunately it didn’t come through.”

The lineup was to include Great White, Nelson, Slaughter, Stephen Pearcy and many others. Great White and Nelson issued statements May 12 saying the bands had pulled out, citing “breach of contract for failing to remit artist deposit payments for money owed to all bands.”

Kunz added that ticket refunds would be issued at point of purchase.

The Michigan event was to be held at I-96 Speedway and, in Wisconsin at Willow Island at Alliance Energy Center.

Rivertown Live also announced the rescheduled Labor Day weekend fest at I-96 Speedway will be free. The new lineup is expected to be announced within the next couple of weeks, according to WZZM.

Rivertown Live CEO Ben Shawa had not returned a call for comment at press time.