Organizers pull the plug on Rock the Country in Poplar Bluff due to low ticket sales

Poplar Bluff officials said Friday evening they were “incredibly disappointed” to learn organizers were canceling Butler County’s second Rock the Country event.

The cancellation of the May event was announced late Friday afternoon by organizers via Facebook.

“It’s never easy to share this kind of news, but we believe in being upfront with our fans. Due to low ticket sales and the potential of a multi-million dollar loss, we’ve made the difficult call to cancel the Rock The Country stop in Poplar Bluff, originally scheduled for May 2nd & 3rd,” organizers said.

The addition of Little Rock as a venue likely played a significant role in slowing the momentum of sales, along with changes to the artist lineup, said Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce President Steve Halter, after the announcement was made.

“Poplar Bluff & Brick’s Off Road Park proved that we could host a major, two-day festival, and we have no doubt that the dedicated team at Brick’s will continue to bring high-quality events to our area,” he said.

Halter said the 2024 event was a “massive success, bringing over 42,000 people to our community and showcasing what makes our region such a great destination for live music and entertainment.”

Organizers said they pushed through in July to deliver the best experience possible and were proud of the party they threw.

Kid Rock shared via social media that he wasn’t as popular as he thought in “UnPoplar Bluff.”

“The truth is that the rain and heat crushed us last year and made it a shit experience for fans. I’m not surprised they didn’t want to come back,” he said.

The ripple effect of lower ticket sales would mean a second show wouldn’t have the same level of energy and fan experience, according to organizers.

“Rather than delivering something that falls short of what our fans deserve, we’ve made the tough decision to step back,” they said.

They have offered two options for those who have already purchased tickets: request a refund or transfer to another Rock The Country stop and receive a $50 merchandise voucher.

Halter said the community remains grateful for the incredible experience Rock the Country provided last year and looks forward to the next big opportunity to showcase Poplar Bluff as a premier destination for live entertainment.