When first announced almost two years ago Nashville Bike Week seemed like it was all set to be the South's next great Motorcycle Rally & Music Fest. They originally announced the 10-day event would feature over 100 bands and attract tens of thousands of motorcyclists from across the country. Offering everything from basic passes to luxury VIP packages for thousands of dollars advance ticket sales were already doing well.
Then in January of this year the trouble started for Nashville Bike Week. The original venue - the Loretta Lynn Ranch - backed out of the deal with NBW stating the promoters had failed to meet their financial obligations with the venue. Shortly after that is was released that the promoter of the event, Mike Axle, a.k.a. Mike Leffingwell, had several warrants out for his arrest and was finally arrested on June 6th in Kentucky.
Through all of this others involved with the event stated that Axle was not the only one promoting the event and his arrest would not impact the event. Even after the BBB put NBW on its 'misleading advertising list', promoters insist the event will still go on as planned... just not sure where. Since the Loretta Lynn Ranch pulled out in January there have been at least 3 other venues for the event announced by the promoters all of which have now stated they would not be hosting the event.
Once again after the latest venue backed out, Nashville Bike Week promoters insist the event will go on and they are NOT offering refunds to anyone who has already purchased tickets.
Below is a list of just some of the news articles related to Nashville Bike Week that have been published over the past several months.
Update on 6/27/2017
WAYNESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) – Nashville Bike Week, a 10-day motorcycle and music festival planned for September, once again has no venue.
Just 11 days ago, it was announced the event would be held at American Rebel Mud Park in Waynesboro. News 2 spoke with the owner at the time, who said he’s a lifelong biker and hoped to make sure the event goes on.
However, on Wednesday, owner Stan Chiras confirmed he is “pulling the plug.”
Read full story on the WKRN.com website
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update on 6/5/2017
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Deputies from multiple Tennessee agencies arrested Nashville Bike Week's organizer on Monday on multiple warrants.
According to the Humphreys County Sheriff's Office, deputies arrested Mike Axle in Bowling Green, Ky., at the Country Hearth Hotel just down the street from the National Corvette Museum.
The Warren County Sheriff's Office said it received a tip that Michael Lewis Axle, also known as Michael Lewis Leffingwell and Christopher Ashley, was at the hotel.
He was arrested with active warrants in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Missouri with charges including probation violation, failure to appear and larceny. The WCSO said other charges may be forthcoming.
Read the full story on the FOX17 Nashville website
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update on 5/31/2017
Nashville Bike Week claims event will happen after venues fall through
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville Bike Week said this week that Opryland and the local camping grounds both pulled out of the event slated for September.
The stages are set but there's nowhere to party. That's the claim from Nashville Bike Week.
The event has been promoted since 2015, but less than four months out every venue reportedly scheduled has fallen through.
Read the full story on the FOX17 Nashville website
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update on 5/23/2017
Nashville Bike Week: State Denies Permit
The Department of Health found Nashville Bike Week's permit application wanting, but at least it revealed its heretofore unknown location.
NASHVILLE, TN — The state health department denied the mass gathering permit sought by the embattled organizers of Nashville Bike Week, making it illegal for them to sell tickets to the event.
Read the full story on The Patch website
Nashville Bike Week says its planning Davidson County venue
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Organizers for Nashville Bike Week signaled a move from Humphreys County to Davidson for the 10-day motorcycle event, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.
The event is still slated to take place September 14 to 24.
Read full story on the WKRN.com website
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update on 3/15/2017
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
The state has ordered Nashville Bike Week to stop selling tickets to the festival immediately.
So what prompted the state's order? Nashville Bike Week said it's going to be the world's largest motorcycle concert with dozens of bands, bikes, and more spread out over ten days.
Read the full story on the NewsChannel5 Network
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update as of 3/6/2017
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The organizer of the scheduled Nashville Bike Week took to Facebook Live Saturday morning to guarantee that the 10-day bike festival will go on as scheduled in September.
But he still has not given complete details on a venue and continues to deny refunds as more ticket holders question if the event is really going to happen.
Mike Axle, whose legal name is Michael Leffingwell, posted a Facebook Live video from Saturday morning that he called a “coming to Jesus meeting.”
Read the full story WKRM.com website
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update as of 3/2/2017
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Is it going to happen or not? That's what motorcycle enthusiasts have been asking about "Nashville Bike Week," ever since NewsChannel 5 Investigates first raised questions about the event and its promoter several weeks ago. And, now Better Business Bureau is sounding the alarm.
Read the full story on the NewsChannel5 Network
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authorities searching for organizer of Nashville Bike Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Concerned customers have been reaching out to the Humphreys County sheriff about money they paid to attend Nashville Bike Week in September.
The 10-day motorcycle festival is supposed to include 101 bands on four stages, daily stunt shows and some of the best motorcycle riding in the country, according to a post on the event’s Facebook page.
Read full story on Wate 6 website
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nashville Bike Week: Ex-Con Promoter Blames Lawyers For Venue Announcement Delay
Despite insisting a new venue would be announced Friday, the embattled promoter punted again but says the show will go on.
HURRICANE MILLS, TN — The convicted swindler promoting September's Nashville Bike Week set his own deadline to announce a new venue for the 10-day event expected to tens of thousands to the tiny town of Hurricane Mills. Friday, that noon deadline came and went.
Read full story on the Nashville Patch website
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nashville Bike Week Organizer Has History of Scams
Questions are being raised about the legitimacy of a motorcycle event after a contretemps with Loretta Lynn.
HURRICANE MILLS, TN — She may have been born a coal miner's daughter, but Loretta Lynn is no sucker.
The country music icon's eponymous ranch and campground cut ties this week with a bikers' event that claims it will draw as many as 150,000 visitors to the tiny Humphreys County town of Hurricane Mills, 55 miles west of Nashville.
Read the full story on the Nashville Patch Website
-------------------------------------------------------------------
CycleFish does not support or endorse Nashville Bike Week, nor do we have any relationship or first hand knowledge of the event, the promoters or the organizers. We are just listing the news stories that we see.
February 16, 2017- -
-
Report
May 25, 2017- -
-
Report
May 25, 2017- -
-
Report