‘The Gambler’ Booked For Ocean City To Replace Michaels

OCEAN CITY – Tickets go on sale today for Kenny Rogers’ concert at Sunfest 2011 on Saturday, Sept. 24.

On Wednesday, the town announced country and pop legend Kenny Rogers has been scheduled as entertainment for this summer’s Sunfest.

Sunfest coordinators were faced with a challenge when scheduled performer for this year’s Sunfest, Bret Michaels, canceled his concert due to a scheduling conflict last week. He has been rescheduled for Sept. 22, 2012.

The scheduling conflict appeared when American and European booking agents for Michaels discovered he would not be available for Sunfest because he was initially scheduled for a live event in Australia.

Planners pulled through by replacing Michaels with Kenny Rogers, who has recorded more than 65 albums, which have sold over 120 million records worldwide during his 52 years in show business. He is an American icon who is in the same league as The Beatles, Elton John and Elvis Presley, according to a town press release.

“That’s a great act,” Mayor Rick Meehan said on Thursday.

Meehan said that Kenny Rogers has performed at the convention center a couple of times as well a couple of Christmas shows that had sold out.

“That is a big name and that is really going to be good for Sunfest,” Mayor Meehan said. “It is something to promote all season and it will definitely be sold out very quickly. Kenny Rogers puts on a great show so it’s fabulous that he is going to be coming.”

Sunfest is Sept. 22-25 at the Inlet Lot downtown. This fall’s event will be the 37th Annual Sunfest. The four-day festival is filled with art and crafts, live entertainment and delicious food.

Other entertainment scheduled is a trio of rock and roll legends on Thursday including Linwood Peel’s Drifters, Cornell Gunter’s Coasters and the Del Vikings.

On Friday, the headliner will be country star Jamey Johnson and on Sunday afternoon a free show will be provided by Captain Fantastic, “The Magic of Elton John.”

Tickets are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information about Sunfest call the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department at 410-250-0125.