Alan Jackson Concert Canceled

The promoter for the inaugural three-day Jukebox Music Festival in Anderson, Calif., told a local radio station he had no choice when he canceled a concert headlined by Alan Jackson and shut down the festival early July 22.

Promoter Allan Folino told country radio station KNCQ-FM July 23 that walk-up ticket sales for the show that also featured Pam Tillis were poor largely because of a rumor that Jackson was sick, which he said sunk the deal, according to Redding’s Record Searchlight.

Folino said he’d paid Jackson $112,500 of the $225,000 fee but he couldn’t cover the balance.

“We ran out of money for Alan Jackson,” Folino was quoted as saying. “We talked all night long to try to get him to work with us … They came back and said [Jackson] is going to take a pass.”

Jackson’s website says the singer rescheduled his July 20 show at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles to July 25 because of a sinus, respiratory and bronchial infection. However, he was back onstage July 21 in Salinas, Calif., and was ready to do the show at the Shasta State Fairgrounds.

But the show wasn’t to be.

“Following early morning e-mails from the promoter of the Jukebox Music Festival, Alan Jackson will not be performing as planned this evening in Anderson, CA.,” according to his website. “Jackson, his band and crew were on-site this morning, ready to load in and prepare for the show, but he will regretfully not be performing.”

Jackson has since posted a notice that tickets purchased for his canceled Jukebox Music Festival concert would be honored at his July 27 show at Stockton Arena. Stockton is about 200 miles from Anderson.

Folino said attendees who purchased tickets via PayPal have recourse for getting a refund. He also said there’s some money left over to refund tickets purchased from local outlets but the accounting is ongoing.

“It’s not like we got money in the back end at all,” he told KNCQ. “I put every dime of my life in this … Nobody is taking money.”

The Anderson Valley Post reported July 22 that Tillis was about to do a sound check when one of the promoters grabbed a mic and announced the concert was canceled, the festival was over and told the crowd to exit the fairgrounds.

Concertgoers were upset and confused, as were late arrivers who found the venue was closed, the Post said.
Organizers posted an apology on the festival’s website with an email address for refund inquiries.