Despite featuring an impressive lineup of country music stars, the Field & Stream Music Festival has been canceled for the second consecutive year, with organizers officially citing “circumstances beyond our control” for the 2025 event’s demise. The festival, scheduled for October 3-5 in Winnsboro, South Carolina, would have featured headliners Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Riley Green, Bailey Zimmerman, and ZZ Top.
The Field & Stream Music Festival faces another setback as star-studded 2025 event succumbs to mysterious “circumstances beyond control.”
Industry insiders reveal that poor ticket sales played a significant role in the decision to cancel, despite the star-studded roster. This marks a troubling pattern after the 2024 festival was also scrapped, though for different reasons—the remnants of Hurricane Helene threatened the outdoor venue and forced organizers to pull the plug.
The Field & Stream Music Festival represented more than just a music event; it served as a cornerstone in the revival strategy for the iconic Field & Stream brand. In January 2024, country music stars Eric Church and Morgan Wallen purchased the rights to the venerable outdoor lifestyle magazine, which originally ran from 1895 to 2015 in print form before shifting to online-only content in 2020.
The festival’s cancellation raises questions about the broader market for country and Americana music festivals, particularly those without major promoter backing. While the official explanation of “unforeseen circumstances” is a common industry euphemism, the struggles to convert the combination of brand heritage and star power into ticket sales suggest deeper challenges. For artists involved, this represents a lost opportunity for merchandise sales revenue, which has become increasingly vital for musicians in today’s evolving industry landscape.
Winnsboro’s location and infrastructure may have contributed to the festival’s difficulties, as accessibility and convenience factor heavily into attendance decisions. The economic environment has further complicated matters, with rising inflation rates affecting everything from staging costs to consumer spending on entertainment. The planned expanded camping options for 2025 indicated organizers recognized some logistical hurdles from previous planning.
For country music fans in the Southeast, the cancellation eliminates a potentially significant gathering spot this fall. The festival organizers failed to effectively implement social media advertising strategies that could have boosted ticket sales through targeted audience engagement. Artists scheduled to perform will now face gaps in their touring schedules, while the Field & Stream brand must reconsider its revival strategy without the promotional platform the festival was intended to provide. Attendees can expect refund checks mailed to the name and address provided during the original ticket purchase, including reimbursement for all related purchases such as tickets, camping, and add-ons.
