After unveiling a star-studded musical headliner lineup for next year's event, Sarasota's Thunder by the Bay Music & Motors Festival has announced one of those stars will no longer be performing.
Cheap Trick will no longer play the 29th annual festival taking place Feb. 19-21 at Sarasota Fairgrounds as it cancels its 2027 tour dates, according to a statement by Suncoast Charities for Children, the organization that puts on Thunder by the Bay.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-inducted group was set to headline the festival's first day.
"Suncoast Charities for Children was notified today by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) that, following many years of
touring, Cheap Trick has made the decision to take a much-needed break from performing for an undetermined period," the statement read. "As a result, the band will unfortunately no longer be performing at the 29th annual Thunder by the Bay Music & Motors Festival in February 2027."
"Festival organizers are working hard to secure a new headline act for Friday, February 19, 2027, at the Sarasota Fairgrounds, and expect an announcement soon. While we are disappointed by this unexpected news, we respect the band's decision and wish them all the best."
Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, Cheap Trick is known for '70s power-pop tracks such as "I Want You to Want Me" and "Surrender," as well as their '80s power ballad and No. 1 hit "The Flame." The group still features frontman and Safety Harbor resident Robin Zander, as well as lead guitarist Rick Nielsen and bassist Tom Petersson.
Customers who bought tickets for the Feb. 19 performance may transfer their tickets to another festival day, or wait until the replacement headliner is announced before deciding whether to request a refund.
The other headliners are Bret Michaels, the frontman of glam metal group Poison and "Rock of Love" reality TV star, on Feb. 20; and Southern rockers The Marshall Tucker Band, known for songs such as "Can't You See" and "Heard It in a Love Song" and still featuring founding frontman Doug Gray, on Feb. 21.
Thunder by the Bay is organized by, and benefits, Suncoast Charities for Children, which funds programs and services for local children, teens and adults with special needs through 10 local nonprofit agencies. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit thunderbythebay.org.
Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Cheap Trick cancels concert at Sarasota's Thunder by the Bay
