QUINCY — The Adams County Bicentennial finale won’t feature the Beach Boys, but organizers promise a “bigger and better show” to close out the year-long celebration.
The Bicentennial Commission announced Friday that country acts Gretchen Wilson and Montgomery Gentry will take the stage instead of the Beach Boys, who canceled the performance set for Saturday, Sept. 6 at the Adams County Fairgrounds.
“It’s never been about a band. It’s about Adams County. It’s about our heritage and celebrating our history, our values, so in that spirit, the show’s going to go on,” Commission Chairman Chuck Scholz said. “We’re going to put on a bigger and better show. For your money, you’re going to get two acts now.”
Wilson, a country music star and recent winner of “The Masked Singer,” will headline the main stage joined by chart-topping Montgomery Gentry.
“It will work out pretty good actually,” said Mark Peter, a commission member helping to oversee the finale. “Chances are it’s an easier sell to a higher percentage of the county.”
Meanwhile, excitement continues to build for the finale celebration featuring free family-friendly activities, exhibits and live entertainment beginning at 11 a.m. at the fairgrounds near Mendon
“The finale is going to be the same as it was going to be three days ago from 11 until whenever the country act comes on. We’re going to honor our veterans, honor our heritage farm families. We’re going to honor the sponsors of the Bicentennial that have made us be able to put on all these activities all year long,” Peter said. “The fireworks are the same, the balloon glow. We’ll have the whole package, just hear a little different music.”
Commission members booked the country acts Thursday after hearing from the Beach Boys on Wednesday.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Beach Boys’ Concert, scheduled for September 6 at the Adams County Bicentennial Finale, has been cancelled,” the official statement from the Beach Boys management team read.
Organizers quickly pivoted, working with event insurers and music industry officials to book new entertainers. “We’re going to double down on our country music. We’re just thrilled that these top two performers were able to make it,” Commission Co-Chair Pam Shaffer said.
“We know the resilience of people in Adams County,” Scholz said. “We’re not going to be fazed by this. We’re going to make it better.”
The finale celebration will feature free performances by talented regional artists including the River Rats, Blake Gardner and the Farmers, the Whatevers, Gypsy Tango Foxtrot, the Eric McCaughey Band and Them Smokin’ Crawdaddys.
Special performances also will be given by the U.S. 144th Army Band the U.S. Air Force “Roots in Blue” Band. Local favorite Blue-Eyed Soul will perform for an “afterglow” celebration, following the fireworks display, in the beer garden.
“The whole day is just going to be something you don’t want to miss,” Scholz said. “It’s going to be history. We’re not only celebrating history. We’re going to make history.”