Artist cancellations hurt festivals - festival cancelltions hurt artists
Chief Keef has been ordered to pay damages of almost a quarter of a million dollars to Washington DC-based promoter Team Major over a performance in London which he failed to turn up for last year. The rapper was due to play at IndigO2 in the O2 dome complex on 29 Dec 2012, but failed to emerge on the day and never gave any reason for his absence. Damages were set at $230,019 to cover the advance payment of $75,000, lost earnings and harm to the promoter's reputation.
In other news, Beady Eye have been forced to cancel festival shows in Belgium (Lokerse festival) and Japan (Summer Sonic) after guitarist Gem Archer suffered an injury. A statement on the band's website explained "Following an accident on the evening of Thursday 1st August, Beady Eye guitarist Gem Archer was hospitalised with severe head trauma. He is currently in a stable condition but continues to stay in hospital under observation". We say 'good luck' and get well soon Gem.And Syrian artist Omar Souleyman has been denied a visa by Swedish authorities, and so, as things stand, will have to miss Gothenburg's Way Out West festival this weekend. The singer has already had to cancel an appearance at the Stockholm Music & Arts Festival after being told its currently Sweden's national policy to not admit Syrian citizens.CMU Daily reports that "noise-rap clique" Death Grips have cancelled a pair of US-based live appearances in Boston and New York, having also failed to show at an official Lollapalooza afterparty last week, nor did they play as billed at the festival itself.Finally, ATP, has voided the already re-scheduled Grizzly Bear-headlined edition of its I'll Be Your Mirror all-dayer at London's Alexandra Palace. Fans who held joint tickets for this and the previously staged Yeah Yeah Yeah's IBYM event will get a partial refund.