Oceans Calling Cancels Friday Opening as Weather Disrupts Site

Oceans Calling organizers canceled the festival’s Friday, September 25, performances in Ocean City, Maryland, saying rough weather and beach erosion prevented crews from safely completing the event site. The status of Saturday and Sunday remained unresolved in reports published as the festival’s opening day approached, despite one later account saying the entire weekend had been canceled. Organizers said continued weather had affected the festival grounds and made it impossible to finish construction safely in time for Friday. The decision halted the opening day of the three-day event, which had been scheduled to feature Dave Matthews Band, Hootie and the Blowfish and Ludacris among its performers. The festival was sold out, according to one report. The available accounts differ on the weekend’s scope. Organizers said in an update that they were working to open for the remainder of the weekend and hoped conditions would improve. Other contemporaneous reports described Saturday and Sunday as planned or said their status was unclear.