Promoter apologises for Sydney De La Soul debacle
Concert promoter John Cawley has apologised for a short De La Soul show in Sydney on Friday that saw the hip-hop trio play for just 15 minutes.
The American group (pictured) arrived at the Greenwood Hotel at around 23.50 – nearly two hours late – and played three songs before the gig was shut down due to curfew. They also failed to show for two shows in Melbourne this week.
In a statement, Cawley, whose Funkdafied company sold an allocation of tickets for the PSV Touring/Red Bull Music Academy-promoted tour, says: “I am very disappointed with everything that happened at the De La Soul show tonight. It’s a terrible shame for all the fans and everyone involved that this happened.
“On behalf of PSV Touring and Red Bull Music Academy, we sincerely apologise”
“On behalf of PSV Touring and Red Bull Music Academy, we sincerely apologise for the delay [in the] presentation of De La Soul at the Greenwood Hotel in Sydney.”
All ticketholders have been offered a refund. De La Soul have not commented.
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Vendini signs up two new partners
Ticketing and event marketing company Vendini has bulked up its fledgling live music division with two new partners: Red Bull Canada Ltd and Piknic Électronik.
Piknic Électronik, a Montreal music festival which has expanded to include events in Dubai, Melbourne and Chilean capital Santiago, and Red Bull Canada join other recently signed-up clients including San Francisco nightclubs Love + Propaganda and Audio and Chicago blues club Buddy Guy’s Legends.
“We partnered with Vendini because we wanted to make it easier for people to see who’s playing and to buy tickets,” explains Anthony Moser, Buddy Guy’s Legends’ director of online sales and social media. “We had relied mainly on door sales, and Vendini helped improve our advance ticketing numbers.”
“The growth we have seen is exciting, but it is just the beginning for us”
Commenting on the new deal, Vendini’s vice-president of live music, Mark Meyerson, says: “Since forming the music business unit we have been able to use the amazing platform and infrastructure Vendini has built over the last 15 years to hyperfocus on live music. Vendini will continue to innovate the entire process – from discovery to ticket purchase, event entry and customer interactions at the event and even after. Add that to a dedicated team just for the music industry that is experienced with live venues, promoters and festivals, and you have the reason so many new members have switched to Vendini.
“The growth we have seen is exciting, but it is just the beginning for us. We’re doing the work every day to build for the future.”
San Francisco-based Vendini announced last month it had topped US$2 billion in total sales.
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