Butler County's sheriff and prosecutor will share more information on the dispute involving organizers of the Voices of America Country Music Festival and government officials on Friday.
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones and Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser will address "recent developments" surrounding the festival during a press conference at 11 a.m. Aug. 28 at the Butler County Sheriff's Office in Hamilton.
West Chester officials announced July 30 the township would not bring the festival back to the area after 2026. Officials then said Aug. 21 that Further Festivals LLC, which has organized the event since 2023, failed to pay bills, missed public safety planning deadlines and breached its license agreements.
The Enquirer obtained records
showing that Further Festivals LLC clashed with West Chester and Butler County officials for months before this year's event, which ran from Aug. 6-9 in West Chester's Voice of America MetroPark.
West Chester officials threatened to take legal action and cancel the festival this year due to almost $20,000 in missed payments. Further Festivals was also late to pay over $56,000 to MetroParks of Butler County over two years, which caused the Butler County Prosecutor's Office to threaten more legal action.
Township officials also said the festival had "detrimental impacts" on surrounding businesses, and one food truck vendor at the festival last year told The Enquirer it took a month for her to get paid.
The music festival has taken place in West Chester's Voice of America MetroPark each August since 2023. The festival this year ran from Aug. 6-9 and featured Blake Shelton and Brad Paisley.
This story may be updated.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Sheriff, prosecutor to share new details of VOA festival dispute
