Helene’s remnants leave mark on grounds, cause cancellation of second day
As cleanup continues across large portions of the Southeast that were battered by Helene, it is remarkable to consider the impact the storm system had on areas even hundreds of miles away from the core devastation. Unfortunately, Huntsville, Alabama, was one such place that was affected by the heavy bands of rain, which wreaked havoc on the grounds of John Hunt Park and ultimately led to the cancellation of the second day of the inaugural South Star Festival. Before that happened, though, thousands of music fans had braved constant drizzle to gather in the park and soak up the nostalgic sounds of acts like Juvenile, Tom Morello, TLC and Gwen Stefani, among others.
South Star, the newest addition to Tim Sweetwood’s festival empire, was curated to feature mainly artists from the ‘90s and early aughts along with a sprinkling of top-notch up-and-comers. The lineup catered specifically to the tastes of older millennials and younger Gen Xers, which made for one of the more unique festival environments we’ve experienced in recent memory. And although the audience largely comprised these key groups, it was not confined to them; rather, all ages were well-represented.
Music festivals as a whole have had a tough go of it in 2024, and South Star was not immune to difficulty. It faced its first major challenge when Saturday sub-headliner Jane’s Addiction had to pull out due to the recent fallout between frontman Perry Farrell and guitarist Dave Navarro and the subsequent cancellation of the group’s tour just two weeks before the festival. With many wondering who could swap in for the heavyweight legacy act on such short notice, C3 Presents outdid itself by tabbing Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave fame as a most suitable replacement.
Another challenge was the inclement weather, which forced organizers to delay the opening of the venue until 2:30 p.m., resulting in burgeoning indie bands Winona Fighter and Dexter and The Moon Rocks being scratched from that afternoon’s schedule. The tough decision was made to allow extra time for the dampened grounds to dry out somewhat, though Saturday’s constant rains prevented that from happening.
Lastly, the downpours never let up, causing the grounds to become increasingly saturated throughout the day. As afternoon turned into evening, they had deteriorated to the point that festival organizers and city officials made the tough choice – revealed early Sunday morning – to cancel day two. Part of the official statement read: “Following an inspection by festival organizers along with city officials, it has been determined that the grounds are no longer safe to welcome you back today. In coordination with the City of Huntsville, we have made the difficult decision to cancel today’s festival.”
While we missed not being able to catch Beck, Sublime, Big Boi and more on Sunday, the first day’s performers lived up to and, in some cases, exceeded expectations. The first act we caught that we enjoyed immensely was New Orleans hip-hop icon Juvenile, who performed with his full backing band, 400 Degreez. The rapper did not let the weather dampen his spirits, as he arguably had the most fun of anyone that day, flashing his trademark blinged-out smile and bantering throughout a set that featured many of the old Cash Money hits such as “Project B****” and “Back That Azz Up.” Members of Juvenile’s entourage walked through the crowd at different points, pouring liquor into the mouths of some fans. Overall, it was a fun and lively appearance and made for a fantastic start to the day.
The next great performance of the day belonged to replacement act Tom Morello, who filled in nicely on short notice. Also perfectly fitting the bill stylistically, he played a sprawling 13-song set that featured covers by Bruce Springsteen, MC5 and John Lennon. Morello of course played several RATM numbers, as well, including a nifty montage of hits like “Bombtrack,” “Know Your Enemy,” “Bulls on Parade,” “Guerrilla Radio,” “Sleep Now in the Fire” and “Bullet in the Head.” He also busted out Audioslave’s “Like a Stone,” which he dedicated to the late Chris Cornell, the supergroup’s lead singer. We honestly couldn’t have asked for a better fill-in for the spot vacated by Farrell and company.
TLC put on an excellent stage show complete with dancers and a DJ who expertly spun at regular intervals to provide T Boz, who suffers from sickle cell anemia and has endured other health issues, ample time to rest during the set. The breaks proved pivotal, as she still possesses a great voice, which she showcased throughout the performance. Chilli, meanwhile, is as energetic as ever and never slowed down, seemingly causing some headaches for some photographers who were attempting to capture a perfect shot of the two surviving members. Listening to the string of hits emanating from the stage, it was amazing to reflect upon the sheer number of them that the group has released in its career.
Gwen Stefani closed out the day in style, performing a career-spanning 15-song set that included choreography with dancers, a costume change at the midway point and a screen showing images of Stefani throughout her career. The onstage personnel’s outfits were cheerleader-themed, and one couldn’t help but wonder if a Super Bowl halftime performance is in her future. The production and performance were every bit worth of such an honor, even if it were lost upon the exasperated gentleman standing next to me who expressed that he really just wanted to hear “Hollaback Girl” instead of the new track “Somebody Else’s.” It’s too bad that he didn’t stick around until the end, as the 2004 single, accompanied by a round of fireworks, served as the lively set closer.
Ultimately, the decision to cancel day two was no doubt a tough call for everyone involved, but it proved to be the correct call. The festival grounds were simply too muddy and slippery for people to move about in a safe manner. There were a few injuries resulting from falls on Saturday, and the risk was simply too great with light rain forecasted again for Sunday. From all accounts, South Star inked a three-year contract with Huntsville, so it will be interesting to see how this weekend shapes up moving forward. Ticket sales appeared to be solid, and the nostalgic theme is one that could draw sizable audiences in the future – as long as Mother Nature cooperates.
