Pharrell Williams announced on X that his "Something in the Water" festival will be postponed. Initially slated for October 12-13, 2024 at Virginia Beach Oceanfront, he announced that the festival was not ready to meet his expectations just yet, and will instead be pushed to April 2025. He said in a statement on X:
“Virginia doesn’t deserve better, Virginia deserves THE BEST. So SOMETHING IN THE WATER has to match that. It just isn’t ready yet. That’s why we as a team have decided we must postpone this year’s SOMETHING IN THE WATER festival that was due to take place in October.”
Pre-sale tickets became available on Friday, September 13, and a mere hours after the exclusive tickets for residents of Virginia were announced, Pharrell Williams revealed that the event was being postponed-- again. The lineup for the festival was days away from coming out.
Pharrell Williams tells fans "Virginia made him"
Pharrell Williams penned a letter to his fans, noting that his hometown, Virginia, deserves the best. He continued in his statement:
“This is not a Pharrell festival, this is the state of Virginia’s festival so it has to be the best. Virginia made me, and I want to honor it with as much love as it’s shown me my entire life. And you know me, everywhere I go it’s VA.”
He added that a tentative date has been decided, stating:
"I am so grateful to our amazing sponsors and the city for their continued support and trust in us to get this right, and that time is April 2025. This has to be EPIC, and trust me, after this long wait, it will be. Thank you for your support, love and understanding.”
Fans who have already purchased their tickets need not fret, for any amount paid will be reimbursed via the original method of purchase. Those who got it in person can head to the Veterans United Home Loan Amphitheater ticket office to collect what's due. Notably, those who have already gotten their tickets can avail of first access when the dates come out next year, Pharrell Williams said in his statement.
Fans did not take to the news lightly, with many expressing their dismay. Some noted that they had already made preparations and paid for hotels, while others pointed out that he was "tarnishing" his own brand.
"Nothing in the water," one user joked.
"Love Pharrell but this festival of becoming a joke. I’m glad I didn’t go out and stand in that line to purchase tickets like I wanted to today. How you start to sell tickets and then at the end of that same day says out is postponed! Absolutely disgraceful," another said.
"Why dont you give people the option to keep their tickets? So you mean when tickets drop again, you expect locals to wait in line and miss work AGAIN? Thats a negative. We love you P. But this move is not it," one user said.
Several others chimed in, ridiculing the announcement.
"Cmon man this a clownshow at this point," one user said.
"My first time getting tickets. Literally bought them an hour ago…," another shared.
Something in the Water is an annual festival, founded by Pharrell Williams in 2009. Last year, sponsored by Walmart and AirBnB, it took place from April 28-30 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
The lineup, dubbed "Pharrell's Phriends," featured Kid Cudi, Lil Waye, and Machine Gun Kelly, among others.
