Highly-Touted 2015 NiFi Festival Canceled

After a huge buildup, the 2015 NiFi Festival has abruptly been canceled.

The festival was to have taken place at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky. from Aug. 28-30, featuring an impressive lineup of acts from across the spectrum of rock and country music, including headliner Miranda Lambert, Hank Williams Jr., Brantley Gilbert, Jake Owen, Trace Adkins, Gov’t Mule, Weezer, Spoon, Flogging Molly, the Preservation Jazz Hall Band and many more. It was a huge lineup made all the more impressive by the fact that this would have been the festival's inaugural year.

“We came in with eyes wide open, we understand the economics of a first year, second year, third year, when you do make money, and how you make it, and we planned for it,” Howard Mergelkamp, NiFi’s chief strategy officer, said in a press release when the festival was announced in May. “We knew out of the gate we didn’t want to be a mediocre festival, or a small one. We came from the approach that not only do we not want to be a failure, it has to be a success at a high level to penetrate the market, get notoriety, for people to come, experience and say, ‘Wow, I want to go back next year.’”

But it didn't work out that way. Festival organizers announced the cancelation in a letter posted to the event's website, saying, “We simply cannot deliver the NiFi vision and fan experience, at our desired level of excellence, given the lack of ticket sales to date," adding, "We thank you for your support of NiFi Music Fest and apologize for any disappointment this may cause."

All tickets will be automatically refunded by Ticketfly. Ticket holders will receive an email confirmation from Ticketfly, and refunds should be processed within two weeks. Both Miranda Lambert and Jake Owen — as well as Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, Hank Williams Jr. and more — will take the stage during the 34th-annual WE Fest, set for Aug. 6-8. Buy tickets for that event here.

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