Mitch Ryder to replace Lynryd Skynyrd at Rock the Rapids Festival
Mon, August 08, 2011 at 10:52am
Johnny Van Zant, lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd was hospitalized over the weekend due to complications from a previous surgery. Regrettably, organizers of the Rock the Rapids Music Festival have been officially notified that Johnny Van Zant will not be able to perform tonight, Monday, August 8, as he was hospitalized with a severe Staph Infection and is undergoing treatment.
Organizers have worked quickly to secure Mitch Ryder who will join Jonny Lang and Finding Clyde originally scheduled to perform tonight.
“The “Festival must go on!” and we are very fortunate to have secured Rock & Roll Hall of fame member Mitch Ryder with little time or notice. He is eager to perform and rock the opening night celebration! MOST importantly, all of us at the festival along with other Lynyrd Skynyrd fans everywhere wish Johnny Van Zandt a speedy and full recovery”, stated Rock the Rapids founder, Denny Baxter.
Festival organizers will open the six day music festival located in the Festival Village just south of Van Andel Arena{150 Oakes Southwest, Grand Rapids, MI 49503} also known as Parking Lot 4, Monday at 4pm.
As special consideration to those that wish NOT to attend Monday night’s performance featuring Jonny Lang, Mitch Ryder and Finding Clyde, Rock the Rapids will EXCHANGE any NON-SCANNED PURCHASED SINGLE DAY ticket for Monday, or TWO DAY ticket (which included Monday nights performance), or SIX DAY ticket (which included Monday nights performance), for a ticket to ANY OTHER REMAINING NIGHT OF THE FESTIVAL, while they last!
EXCHANGES may be made daily, beginning Tuesday, August 9, at the FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE ONLY, which is located on Ottawa Street (adjacent to Van Andel Arena), between the hours of 3pm and 10pm.
Single day ticket holders for Monday, August 8th or TWO DAY ticket holders with a Monday August 8th ticket seeking a refund may obtain a refund of their VALID NON- SCANNED August 8th TICKET, beginning August 15, by mailing the valid non-scanned ticket(s), along with a self addressed and stamped return envelope to:
Rock the Rapids Festival
Re: Lynyrd Skynyrd
PO Box 428
Comstock Park, Michigan 49321
Others artists to perform throughout the 2011 Rock the Rapids festival include:
- Tuesday, August 9, Stone Temple Pilots, Rose Hill Drive, Wayland
- Wednesday, August 10, Willie Nelson, Robert Randolph
- Thursday, August 11, Alice Cooper, Bachman Turner
- Friday, August 12, Blake Shelton, Bomshel
- Saturday, August 13, Ludacris, TPain, Due Diligence
Tickets are available at the gate; on line at rocktherapids.org; and Festival information can be found at rocktherapids.org and facebook.com/rocktherapids.