J. Cole, the 33-year-old rapper was set to play the inaugural festival in North Carolina on Saturday (15.09.18), but the event has been axed as the category 4 storm is expected to cause disruption from Thursday (13.09.18).
The ‘Crooked Smile’ hitmaker expressed his concerns about his fans’ safety.
He tweeted on Monday: (10.09.18) “Mannn. Due to this Hurricane heading to NC, we have to cancel Dreamville Festival.
“We’re working to get another date, but right now safety is most important. I appreciate everybody that was headed to rock with us. 30,000 + were expected. All tickets will be refunded. Bsafe. (sic)”
The artist was set to headline with Big Sean, SZA, Young Thug and Nelly among artists on the line-up.
In a statement, the festival’s organisers said: “Due to safety concerns regarding dangerous weather, we are extremely saddened to announce today that the inaugural Dreamville Festival 2018 is being cancelled.
“Our team has been working tirelessly with officials from the City of Raleigh, along with our State and Federal Partners, among others, to monitor the potential negative impact of Hurricane Florence.
“With the current weather-related information at hand, we have together decided to cancel this year’s event for the ultimate safety of both the local citizens and festival attendees.”
The storm was made a category 4 hurricane on Monday (10.09.18) by the National Hurricane Center after gaining 140 mph winds and is currently gaining strength in the Atlantic Ocean.