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Oliver Anthony, Papa Roach Play Unplugged Parking Lot Sets After Blue Ridge Rock Festival Canceled Due to Extreme Weather

After severe weather resulted in the cancellation of the final two days of the Blue Ridge Rock Festival at the VIR Raceway in Alton, VA, some of the bands on the bill tried to make good with disappointed fans by playing acoustic sets. Among the acts taking to a makeshift stage on Saturday were Papa Roach, Shinedown and viral country star Oliver Anthony Music.

The event was originally scheduled to take place from Thursday (Sept. 7) through Sunday (Sept. 10), but due to high winds, rain and dangerous weather, multiple days were impacted, including the first night, when lightning, heavy rain, hail and strong winds forced the evacuation of the Raceway and the cancellation of that nightโ€™s sets, according to Loudwire. The weather reportedly moved in during Coheed and Cambriaโ€™s set just before 7 p.m.; Five Finger Death Punch, Staind, Evanescence and Rise Against sets were also called off due to the weather.

WDBJ reported that storms on Thursday caused severe damage to campground roads and attendeesโ€™ tents, after extreme heat earlier in the week impacting staff members felled by heat stroke; the station reported that the hot weather was so intense that even security search dogs needed IVs.

An emergency alert from the festival warned fans: โ€œSEVERE WEATHER APPROACHING: Please exit immediately and seek shelter in your campsite, vehicle or our shuttle buses.โ€ While the music was back on by Friday โ€” including a surprise set from โ€œRich Men North of Richmondโ€ singer Anthony, as well as performances from headliners Slipknot and Danzig โ€” Saturday and Sundayโ€™s lineups were wiped out when organizers called off the rest of event due to expected bad weather.โ€œWith heavy hearts, due to this weekendโ€™s continued severe weather, we must announce the cancellation of the final days of Blue Ridge Rock Festival,โ€ organizers said in a statement. โ€œYour safety and well-being are our foremost concerns. We understand the disappointment this brings, and we share immensely in your sadness. Please know that this decision was made with the utmost consideration for everyone involved and our focus now is on supporting those of you still on-site.โ€

Organizers said they are working to provide refund details for attendees and said information will be available early this week. โ€œThis has been an agonizing turn of events for what was to be such a special weekend,โ€ the statement continued. โ€œThere will be more much that we unveil over the next few days. Rest assured, we will take care of you despite these difficult circumstances. The call-off of Sundayโ€™s lineup meant Limp Bizkit, Pantera, Lamb of God, Babymetal, Pierce the Veil, Chevelle and others never got a chance to play. Unrelated, Rammstein singer Till Lindemannโ€™s solo set was canceled due to a reported illness. A statement about the final dayโ€™s cancellation noted that heavy storm activity was expected, including high winds and rain, with the festival asking campers to check out by 2 p.m. and those whose vehicles were stuck or disabled offered rides to safety.

A number of acts tried to make it up to drenched fans, with video showing Papa Roach doing an acoustic version of โ€œScarsโ€ as fans sing along, Shinedown singing โ€œSecond Chanceโ€ (with Anthony singing backing vocals) and Anthony strumming his trusty acoustic for a run through his Billboard No. 1 hit โ€œRich Men North of Richmond.โ€

Watch the surprise acoustic set and see the full event statement below.

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