A SYDNEY band was left all dressed up with nowhere to play late last week when a local hotel cancelled a gig at the last minute.
Reggae band Black Bird Hum were meant to be playing at The Pier in Port Macquarie, but were told by text last Thursday that the gig was being cancelled for budgetary reasons.
Band member Jon Panic posted a note on Facebook about the cancellation.
“We book these gigs a long way out and we book several over a weekend tour to make them (almost) financially viable,” Jon wrote.
“So, having a venue tell us they can’t pay us is a killer blow. Especially with no time to make alternative arrangements.
“The van is booked, accommodation is booked, the band members that work day-jobs have time off work, and the couple of band members that are career-musos are locked in and will be paid whether we play or not (by me – once I book someone I pay them, gig or not).
“So, we’ll be doing a show in Port.
“Either way I’m out of pocket, so we may as well do the show for free and have half the drive to Byron out of the way when we wake up Friday morning, right?
“That said, it doesn’t have to be at The Pier.
“If you or anyone you know has a venue that would be willing to pay an awesome reggae band from Sydney to come play, please let us know.”
Jon said they have been overwhelmed with comments of support on Facebook and late on Tuesday the band was negotiating with another potential venue in Port Macquarie. If that does come to pass, it will be posted on their Facebook site, www.facebook.com/blackbirdhum
