Peach Music Festival Takes a Pause in 2024, Introduces 'Peach at the Beach'

Future uncertain for long-running festival and venue as rumors abound

Live Nation's recent announcement regarding the annual Peach Music Festival has sent ripples through the music community. For the first time since its inception, (excluding the COVID-19 induced cancellation of the 2020 edition) the beloved festival, originally founded by the Allman Brothers Band, will not grace the Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain in 2024. Months of speculation among internet fan groups have finally been laid to rest with Live Nation confirming the festival's hiatus this year.

However, the void left by the absence of Peach Music Festival will be filled to some extent by an exciting new event: 'Peach at the Beach' in Atlantic City, NJ. This one-day spin-off promises to capture the essence of its predecessor while offering a fresh coastal experience.

Set to take place at the Summer Concert Stage at Island Waterpark, adjacent to Bart Blatstein's Waterpark, Peach at the Beach aims to recreate the magic of the Allman Brothers-themed festival with a lineup featuring renowned acts like Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Dogs in a Pile, Trouble No More, Karina Rykman, and Mykal Rose.

The Summer Concert Stage, nestled between Bart Blatstein's $100 million waterpark and the Boardwalk, is set to become a prominent venue for live music during the summer season. Despite not being directly on the beach, the open-air space offers an intimate setting for concertgoers, with a capacity ranging from 5,000 to 7,500. Live Nation, the driving force behind Peach at the Beach, has plans to host additional shows at the venue throughout the summer, promising a vibrant lineup of performances.

While fans eagerly anticipate the return of Peach Music Festival, delays in scheduled infrastructure improvements at the Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain have raised addtional questions about the venue's future. The comparatively light schedule of 2024 shows added additional fuel to the already burning rumor mill.

As speculations abound regarding the festival's potential return in 2025, with Live Nation executives and event planners holding the key to its fate. Plans for a slopeside hotel at the adjacent ski resort and other fan-friendly enhancements signal a promising future for both the venue and the festival.

Recent announcements of upcoming shows featuring rock bands Halestorm and I Prevail at the Toyota Pavilion in addtion to already scheduled shows featuring country stars Dierks Bentley and Jason Aldean hint at a resurgence in activity, sparking hope among fans for a full slate of shows in the upcoming season.

As rumors swirl and anticipation builds, music enthusiasts can only wait with bated breath, hoping for the triumphant return of Peach Music Festival and the revitalization of the iconic Scranton, PA venue by the summer of 2025. Until then, the future remains uncertain, but optimism prevails among devoted fans, eager to once again immerse themselves in the magic of live music atop Montage Mountain.