Shinedown Pulls Out Of Rock The Country Festival Dates
Shinedown have withdrawn from this year’s Rock The Country touring festival, saying they don’t want to be part of something they feel could deepen political and cultural division. The band had been announced for the Anderson, South Carolina stop in late July, but they have now confirmed they will not appear on the bill.
In a statement posted to social media, Stereogum reported that Shinedown said their purpose is “to unite not divide,” adding that they “do not want to participate in something that we feel will create further division.” The band also wrote that their “one BOSS” is “everyone in the audience,” and thanked fans for backing the decision.
Rock The Country has been promoted as a country-focused travelling festival with headliners including Kid Rock and Jason Aldean, and it has already seen several artists depart since the lineup was announced. Rapper Ludacris was the first to pull out, followed by country artists Carter Faith and Morgan Wade, with Shinedown now joining that list.
The withdrawal is also notable given recent comments from Shinedown drummer Barry Kerch, who criticised Ludacris for exiting the event. The band have previously faced scrutiny around Kid Rock-related controversy, including when they responded to backlash tied to a Kid Rock show in earlier coverage.
As of Shinedown’s announcement, the Anderson dates are no longer listed on the festival’s website, and Shinedown and Creed have been removed from the event poster. It remains to be seen whether more acts will follow, but the latest shake-up adds to a growing list of lineup changes surrounding the festival.
