OGDEN — The Nashville band Lonestar and “American Idol” runner-up Bo Bice canceled their appearance at Lindquist Field at the Hometown Country Showcase benefit concert earlier this week.
The two acts were also missing from a similar fundraiser showcase presented Monday in Orem.
Tuesday night’s show at Lindquist Field instead featured Utah-rooted country bands Jagertown, Dyer Highway, Charley Jenkins and Due West, as well as a headline turn by Nashville artists LoCash Cowboys.
Lonestar was slated to play several more Utah appearances this summer as part of the showcases. These fundraisers benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, providing services for injured veterans and their families.
Two other upcoming Lonestar performances at Lindquist Field — on July 4 and July 24 — have been dropped. Those shows will go on as scheduled, but will feature other acts.
Last-minute contractual disputes led to the cancellations of Lonestar and Bice, said Jason Taylor, of Double Play Entertainment, who is working as the event coordinator for the Hometown Country Showcase shows.
“I’m embarrassed and disappointed it turned out this way,” Taylor said. “And at this point, I am not throwing blame in any direction. My No. 1 priority right now is giving value entertainment at these shows — and we have acts who will give that.”
For several hours Tuesday morning, ticket sales for the day’s show were suspended at Smith’s Tix. Sales resumed on the site around noon as promoters decided to proceed with those acts that had been confirmed.
Dee Dee Hill, general manager at Smith’s Tix, said they will post at the venue gates a list of the artists playing. That way, those who had purchased tickets expressly to see one of the canceled acts can make arrangements to receive a refund before entering the show.
“We are willing to work with people who are disappointed by this last-minute change,” Hill said. “As long as they don’t enter and get their ticket torn, they can get their money back from wherever they purchased the tickets.”
Requests for a statement on the specifics of the Bice and Lonestar cancellations were forwarded to their label, Saguaro Road Records. No reply was received.
The upcoming July 4 lineup at Lindquist Field has been confirmed and includes Jared Ashley, Jagertown, Josh Gracin, Richie McDonald and the Bellamy Brothers.
Nashville singer Tracy Lawrence will headline the July 24 Lindquist show, with other supporting acts to be announced.
For questions on ticket refunds or on the upcoming shows, call Smith’s Tix at 800-888-TIXX.
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