Rich Howells

Godsmack and Sherman Theater deal with fan Uproar over canceled performance

Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size Text Size Print This Page

Massachusetts hard rockers Godsmack canceled their headlining performance at the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival at Mount Airy Casino Resort on Saturday, and fans were not happy about it – particularly when other main stage acts played that night.

The band cited “unforeseen production/technical issues with that stage itself” in a statement posted on their Facebook page that night, and while they said that “none of the main stage acts” were able to play the stage, Pop Evil, Escape the Fate, Buckcherry, and Skillet did perform, just not on the main stage. Skillet closed the night with a 45-minute set, ending before 7 p.m.

Here is Godsmack’s Aug. 23 Facebook post in full:

As some of you may heard: Unfortunately none of the main stage acts on RockstarUPROAR Fest were able to play today on the main stage due to unforeseen production/technical issues with that stage itself. We were unable to fit our production onto the smaller side stage to perform, and so therefore were unable to play. We are very sorry to disappoint, but please know that it was out of our control. We wanted nothing more than to be able to deliver the kind of show our fans know us for tonight. We hope to return and play for you all as soon as possible!

If you had a ticket for the Uproar show in Mt Pocono today, SAVE YOUR TICKET! You will be able to come to the show at Susquenna Bank Center in Camden, NJ this Tuesday for FREE. To redeem this offer, all you have to do is bring your ticket stub from the Mt Pocono show and exchange it at Susquehanna Bank Center Box office this Tuesday. Seat locations subject to availability. Again we apologize for any inconveniences and hope to see you Tuesday!

While some fans were understanding, many of the now hundreds of comments lashed out at the band, asking why they didn’t play a stripped down set or at least notify fans beforehand that they wouldn’t be playing that night. To their credit, the band directly responded to many of the comments, calmly explaining that they were just as disappointed by the situation and had no idea when they arrived that the stage could not accommodate their large show, which includes pyrotechnics and two large dueling drum kits that are wheeled on and off the stage. They would have played a stripped down show, they added, but were not prepared for the last-minute change. As they explained to one commenter:

We are with you – we too have to pay our whole crew and travel expenses too for a show, we didn’t get to play. If you are having issues with the venue staff however, directing that anger at us can’t fix that.. you need to contact the proper parties. I don’t think they are reading our FB page.

PS we didn’t bail on the fans….. we showed up willing and ready to play a show and had no choice in the matter. If we did, we would have moved to the other stage with the other bands. Being the headliners, we had a little more we were dealing with here. The whole show would have had to be re-worked.. and by the time we found out, that wasn’t an option for us. Sorry

Other fans directed their criticism at Mount Airy Casino and the Sherman Theater, who booked the Uproar Festival without being able to accommodate the headliners. Many demanded a refund but said they had difficulty finding out who to contact to get their money back. Mount Airy reposted Godsmack’s Facebook statement on its Facebook page but offered no further comments, while the Sherman posted this statement on Facebook on Aug. 25:

The Sherman Theater is greatly disappointed by the schedule and lineup changes that occurred at the Rockstar Energy Uproar Festival on Saturday. These changes were outside of our control and the decision of the Uproar Festival. We are still in discussions to get the refunds we were told would happen and find solutions that would be in the best interests of our customers.

In the interim, please be aware that anyone who had a ticket to the show for the Festival on Saturday, your tickets will be honored at the Festival in Camden, NJ this Tuesday, August 26th. If your tickets were torn at the event, bring your ticket stub to Camden. If your unused tickets were collected at the box-office the day of the event your name, the number and type of tickets you purchased will be on a list that will be given to the Uproar Festival on today. If you had print-at-home tickets, reprint your tickets and bring them with you to Camden.

The Sherman followed this up with another statement on Facebook this morning:

The Sherman Theater team and I have been the leading Non Profit Concert and event promoter in the Pocono Mountains for the last 9 years. We have always provided an amazing concert and festival experience and are extremely disappointed in the outcome of this weekends event.

We are actively working to get a resolution to our fans and friends in as quick a time frame as possible. Based on what I was told by Uproar on Saturday I fully expected we would have had everything resolved by Monday. It is not yet completed and we can not give out all the details yet, but i am hopeful that I can provide a satisfactory resolution to all parties by Thursday of this week.

As a non profit performing arts center we are eager to resolve this issue in the swiftest and most beneficial way possible. We will provide all the details as quickly as we are able. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

Richard Berkowitz
President and CEO
Sherman Theater

This story will be updated as developments occur.