Bad Weather Halts Festivals

Festival officials in Michigan and Kentucky had to clear the decks and temporarily shut down because of bad weather July 17-18.

A powerful thunderstorm with winds of 60 m.p.h. brought down a number of trees and power lines and forced evacuation of the Forecastle Festival at Waterfront Park in Louisville, Ky., July 17.

Concertgoers were able to leave the area amid heavy gusts of wind to find shelter before the storm hit around 10 p.m. No injuries were reported, according to WDRB-TV. Headliner Sam Smith was in the middle of a song when he was ushered off stage and the festival stopped. Smith told fans via his Instagram, “This KILLS me, because you guys were SO loud and incredible!”

An initial exam of the venue found no major damage. Some chain link fences and tents were blown over. The three-day Forecastle Festival resumed its schedule the next day.

Meanwhile Live Nation’s Faster Horses Country Fest at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., was suspended with 40,000 people on hand when lightning was spotted July 18.

A powerful thunderstorm with winds of 60 m.p.h. brought down a number of trees and power lines and forced evacuation of the Forecastle Festival at Waterfront Park had just finished his main stage set around 8 p.m. when the crowd got the bad news to evacuate and seek shelter until further notice, according to the Ann Arbor News. Organizers were able to reopen gates at 10 p.m. and resume the concert schedule about 11:15 p.m.