Country Concert in Fort Loramie will have to celebrate the big 4-0 a year late.
Organizers of the annual country music festival, campout and party featuring some of the biggest stars and up-and-comers in country music announced this morning that it will cancel this year’s event and plan the same show hopefully with the same lineup for July 8-10, 2021.
Scheduled headliners included Alan Jackson, Luke Combs and Jason Aldean. Other performers for the three-day event included Justin Moore, Neal McCoy, Lorrie Morgan, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi and more.
“We are incredibly disappointed to have to reschedule our 40th Anniversary event until July 8, 9, 10, 2021. We explored every possible option to have the 2020 event safely for our fans, charitable organizations, vendors, sponsors, employees, and local businesses. Our plan is to have the same artists for 2021. We will have more announcements on that coming very soon,” concert organizers shared on social media and their website Thursday.
Ticket holders will receive an email with information on how to keep tickets, seats and camping for 2021 or to get a refund.
HISTORY OF COUNTRY CONCERT
Mike and Mary Jo Barhorst didn’t set out to create one of the region’s largest annual gatherings of music fans. However, that’s exactly what happened with Country Concert in Fort Loramie.
The event started in the late 1970s as a cookout for family and friends to celebrate the couple’s wedding anniversary. Local musicians performed while partygoers indulged in food and homemade wine. Word about the celebration quickly spread. Attendance had grown so much by 1981, the Barhorsts decided to make the event public.
Louise Mandrell was the headliner that first year. Since then, the concert has hosted some of the biggest names in country music, including Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynne, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire.
In recent years, the annual three-day event has drawn more than 20,000 concertgoers per day to see marquee headliners such as Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Florida Georgia Line and Kid Rock. Country Concert, which is now run by Mike and Mary Jo’s four sons, isn’t just a destination for Americans. Each year, it attracts country music fans from Europe, Canada, Australia and other locales.
Country Concert is about more than music. In addition to camping and food, Country Concert also generates thousands of dollars each year to support area groups and organizations such as the Ft. Loramie Fire Department and the American Red Cross.
Mike Barhorst was 77 when he passed away on March 1, 2017. Paul Barhorst has been president of Country Concerts since 2007.
COUNTRY CONCERT PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED PERFORMERS
Concert organizers announced its hopes to return the same lineup for the 2021 event. Here is a list of previously announced performers:
THURSDAY
Main Stage:
4 p.m.: Lorrie Morgan
6 p.m.: Neal McCoy
8 p.m.: Justin Moore
10 p.m.: Alan Jackson
Country Club Saloon:
3 p.m.: McGuffey Lane
5 p.m.: Jesse Keith Whitley
7 p.m.: Bellamy Brothers
9:15 p.m.: Hannah Dasher
FRIDAY
Main Stage:
4 p.m.: Riley Green
6 p.m.: Chris Lane
8 p.m.: Old Dominion
10 p.m.: Luke Combs
Country Club Saloon:
10 a.m.: Karaoke finals
5 p.m.: Niko Moon
7 p.m.: Jon Langston
9:15 p.m.: Ashland Craft
SATURDAY
Main Stage:
2 p.m.: Deana Carter
4 p.m.: Ashley McBryde
6 p.m.: Cody Johnson
8 p.m.: Jon Pardi
10 p.m.: Jason Aldean
Country Club Saloon:
1 p.m.: Sean Stemaly
3 p.m.: Drew Parker
5 p.m.: Rayne Johnson
7 p.m.: Gabby Barrett
9:15 p.m.: Lainey Wilson
For more information, visit www.countryconcert.com.