Rapper Common's AAHH! Fest Is Cancelled Until Next Year

By Rachel Cromidas in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 14, 2017 11:15PM

The annual AHH! Music Fest, created by Chicago-native and acclaimed rapper Common, is being cancelled this year, but will return next September, the fest announced Thursday on social media.

The fest was scheduled for Sept. 23 and 24 in Union Park, and meant to serve as both a music fest and a charity event for Common's Common Ground Foundation and other local organizations. AHH! Fest debuted in 2014, but took a year off in 2015 because organizers said they "didn't have all the tools or things we wanted to make it as dope as it could be," according to the Tribune.

The fest returned in 2016, and featured Vic Mensa, Jeremih, The Roots, J. Cole and a surprise appearance from Chance the Rapper. The next one is now scheduled for Sept. 15, 2018. Though the fest was originally slated for just a little over one week from today, details on who would be performing were scarce leading up to the announcement of the cancellation.

A statement on the fest's website and Twitter account says:

"The AHH! Fest was created as an outdoor music festival to celebrate the people, the culture and the community of Chicago, and more importantly, to have a real impact through Common Ground Foundation and other community organizations. To achieve the scale of impact and service truly needed in Chicago, we are retooling this initiative to create an experience that goes far beyond an outdoor music event. AHH! Fest 2017 will not be held on Sept. 23-24 at Union Park. We look forward to announcing our new strategic alliances and year-round plans to create dynamic community engagement in 2018."