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Ted Nugent concert axed over political views

An Alabama venue has cancelled a concert by guitarist Ted Nugent following an outcry over the American singer’s political views.

The self-styled “political firebrand” was slated to perform at the Avondale Brewing Company in Birmingham on 18 July as part of his farewell tour, Adios Mofo.

However, the 2,000-cap venue and promoter Red Mountain Entertainment have pulled the show just days after it was announced after receiving a torrent of criticism for the booking.

“We have heard the concerns of the Avondale community”

AL.com describes Nugent, who performed at a Trump rally in Waco, Texas, earlier this year, as “an outspoken advocate for hunting and gun ownership rights and an equally ardent opponent of animal rights”. He has also faced accusations of homophobia, transphobia and misogyny.

“We have heard the concerns of the Avondale community, which is so important to us, and in conjunction with our partners, have taken the necessary steps to cancel the Ted Nugent concert scheduled for July 18,” writes the venue on Instagram Stories.

In response to the cancellation, the Michigan-born 74-year-old posted a link to the AL.com article on his Facebook page, adding: “Liars & haters drunk on stupid incapable to debate me.”


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Live Nation acquires Alabama’s Red Mountain

Live Nation has acquired a majority stake in Red Mountain Entertainment, a regional concert and festival promoter headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.

Red Nation’s core concert business books shows into venues of all sizes across the south-eastern United States, including the Wharf Amphitheater (10,000-cap.), Tuscaloosa Amphitheater (7,470-cap.) and Iron City (1,300-cap.) in Alabama, and the Brandon Amphitheater (8,300-cap.) in Mississippi, exclusively. Past shows  include the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Kings of Leon, Rod Stewart, Fall Out Boy, Twenty One Pilots, John Mayor and G-Eazy.

It is also involved in the production of several music festivals, including Sloss Music & Arts Festival in Birmingham, which it co-owns with AC Entertainment (also a Live Nation company) and VMI, and exclusively books Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, Tennessee, and Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival in Richardson, Texas.

“From day one, our goal at Red Mountain has always been to bring fans’ favourite artists to town,” says company president Gary Weinberger.

“They are just terrific people who have built a tremendous concert business”

“As we took on bigger venues, talent and events across the south-east, we always stayed true to that mission, which is why we were excited about the opportunity to work with Live Nation.

“As part of Live Nation, with my partners Jay Wilson, John Ruffino and our team, we look forward to bringing countless more shows and festivals to fans across the south-east.”

The deal is the concert giant’s ninth acquisition or equivalent this year, with its majority takeover of Texas’s ScoreMore Shows in May the most recent.

“I have had the great privilege to have known Gary, Jay and John for many years now, and they are just terrific people who have built a tremendous concert business,” says Bob Roux, president of US Concerts at Live Nation. “Given their entrepreneurial approach to business, their personal relationships and their tireless work ethic, they will continue to grow and accomplish even more as we work alongside one another at Live Nation.”

 


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