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International superstar and Grammy Award-nominated singer/songwriter, Kenny Lattimore, will no longer be performing at the Nelson Mandela Bay Cultural Festival this weekend.
He made the announcement on his Facebook page just over four hours ago.
Posted by Kenny Lattimore on Thursday, 30 July 2015
"I am deeply disappointed and regret to inform all of my South African fans that I will not be performing at the Nelson Mandela Bay Music Festival. The organizers of the event have failed to secure travel and business arrangements for me and my band.
"I was truly looking forward to seeing everyone and performing my hits and new music from Anatomy Of A Love Song. I love you all so much for your support and will let everyone know when we have scheduled new dates in SA."
Loads of Kenny's fans voiced their disappointment on social media shortly after he made the announcement.
In the meantime, organisers said that the "Main Festival on Saturday, August 1 continues as planned" at the St George's Cricket Grounds.
"We are deeply sorry about the withdrawal of Kenny Lattimore from the event, the organisers will address the media on the matter at 13:15 today. We shall post the way forward in this regard immediately after the briefing."
This is not the first big concert or event that has been cancelled on short notice.
In June 2012, Andrea Wessels and her children Rukshane and Rukaard's company, Zeranza SA, were meant to host the MBay Megafest at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium with international artists Ludacris, Ne-Yo, Protoje and Shaggy. Just a few days before the concert it was "postponed", but organisers assured fans that the concert would happen at a later stage. "A new date for the concert is yet to be decided, but June has been ruled out," the organisers said in a statement.
The concert never took place.
Another major embarrassment for Port Elizabeth was The Bay Summer Concert that took place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on November 29, 2009. Busta Rhymes, the headline act, arrived at the Stadium hours late and told the remaining concert-goers that he would perform at the La Dee Da's club in Salsoneville in PE's Northern areas.
A few weeks later another concert at the Stadium from December 18 to 20, 2009 that was cancelled at the last minute due to lack of funds was the Nelson Mandela Bay International Music Festival. Major artists like Keri Hilson, American R&B artist and the legendary Hugh Masakela would have performed.
