HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A rainy week has prompted organizers to adjust the schedule for Day 1 of the South Star Music Festival at John Hunt Park. The change has led to at least one band being dropped from the schedule.
In an announcement late Friday, officials indicated the soggy conditions from rain over the past few days coupled with the forecast for more showers into Saturday morning led to the changes.
In the revised schedule, Candlebox will lead off on the Camellia Stage at 3 p.m. while the Gin Blossoms will take to the Supersonic Stage at 3:45 p.m. Other performances follow on a delay from their original times.
Gates will open at 2:30 p.m.
The change means that Winona Fighter, which had been scheduled for Saturday's lineup, was bumped and could not be rescheduled. The band confirmed this on their Instagram account, saying in part, "This was not because of anything on our end... Safety for you and the festival goers is the first priority and we understand that South Star needed the extra time to make a safe and enjoyable experience for you all.
"We are super bummed but hope you all still enjoy the festival so much," the Nashville-based band added. "Mosh in the mud for us."
Fans of Texas indie rock quartet Dexter and the Moonrocks took to social media Friday night, complaining that the group had also been dropped from the schedule. As of 11 p.m. Friday that change has not been confirmed through South Star or the band's public profiles. FOX54 has reached out to the band's management for comment.
Tens of thousands of people are expected for the inaugural 2-day event, bringing locals and visitors together for performers such as Ludacris, Gwen Stefani and the Goo Goo Dolls.
The festival released the following statement along with the updated schedule:
Hello South Star Friends! We are excited to see you tomorrow. Mother Nature handed us a doozy of a task to clean up after the rain over the past few days, and we are working quickly to prepare for your arrival. To make sure the park is ready for the best experience possible, we have pushed our opening time to 2:30pm. Here is our adjusted performance schedule! Thank you for your patience!
Prepare for soggy conditions – wear your rain boots and dress for the weather. See you soon!