The lead singer of a national touring rock band claims Luzerne County officials canceled the group’s scheduled performance at this Friday’s Rockin’ the River event for political reasons.
“For the first time ever, my show has been canceled for ‘political’ reasons,” Adam Weiner, lead singer of the Philadelphia-based band Low Cut Connie, said on Facebook on Monday in a post that included a nearly six-minute video of him blasting the decision.
Weiner said event promoters believe Low Cut Connie’s appearance would have been “too controversial” and polarizing.
“I think it’s a cowardly choice,” Weiner said.
When asked about Weiner’s claims, Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo responded via email that “Our goal is to have a place where we can enjoy music, food, promote our community, have fun, be safe and free of politics and propaganda.”
Low Cut Connie lead singer Adam Weiner says his band was canceled from performing at Friday’s “Rockin’ the River” show for “political” reasons
Organizers of Rockin’ the River, a free Friday night concert series every July along the Susquehanna River, touted Low Cut Connie as a headlining act during an announcement on April 17 — keeping in tradition of having a prominent original musical act perform on the final night of the concert series.
Since that time, Rockin’ the River officials announced AC/DC cover band “Halfway to Hell” would instead headline the final night — without much explanation.
Alan Stout, executive director of Luzerne County’s Visit Luzerne County tourism bureau, which organizes and promotes the concert series, deferred to Crocamo’s statement when asked for comment Monday. He previously said organizers “decided to go in a different direction” without elaborating.
While Weiner didn’t say what specifics county officials cited for the band’s cancellation, he said he unapologetically promotes diversity and inclusion at his shows.
“Everyone is welcome at a Low Cut Connie show,” Weiner said. “Inclusion and diversity are not dirty words.”
In his video, Weiner also mentioned raids being conducted by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, calling them “inhumane and anti-American.”
“I will not stop speaking about that,” Weiner said.
A little over a month after being announced as the headline act for the July 25 Rockin’ the River show, Low Cut Connie released a song “Livin’ in America” seen as a protest song against President Donald Trump.
“Livin’ in the USA, but it ain’t my home,” Weiner sings to begin the song.
Low Cut Connie has drawn praise from music legends Bruce Springsteen and Elton John and it made headlines in 2015 when President Barack Obama revealed his summer Spotify song list including hits from the band. Additionally, the band performed at President Joe Biden’s inauguration festivities in 2021.
Earlier this year, Low Cut Connie announced it pulled out of a planned performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. in response to Trump’s takeover of the facility. Trump fired multiple board members of the facility and installed his own appointees, who later elected him chairman.
Low Cut Connie performs at Innings Festival at Tempe Beach Park on Sunday, Feb, 27 2022, in Tempe, Ariz. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
A Low Cut Connie fan from Cedar, Michigan, wrote an email to county officials and media outlets expressing his frustration with the cancellation.
“I am so very disappointed that you have chosen to cancel the appearance of one of the best bands on the planet at your upcoming event. I have seen Low Cut Connie perform several times and I can attest to not only their talent and enthusiasm onstage, but to the positive messages they send with their music,” wrote Tom Ulrich.
Doors open to Friday’s Rockin’ the River concert at 5 p.m. Aaron Fink & The Fury take the stage at 6 p.m. followed by Halfway to Hell. The free concert is held in the Millennium Circle in the River Common park along the Susquehanna River in Wilkes-Barre.