Willie Nelson Zoo Amphitheatre concert cancellation

[TheTravellers]

Heard they cancelled because of a "band member illness", but found out the real reason - the trucks pulled up to the Zoo Amp, saw how much of a muddy slop it was, said "we can't unload and load back up in these conditions, we're done", so it was cancelled. Just wanted to get the info out there so people would be aware of what went on rather than their BS they gave...

[Snowman]

Heard they cancelled because of a "band member illness", but found out the real reason - the trucks pulled up to the Zoo Amp, saw how much of a muddy slop it was, said "we can't unload and load back up in these conditions, we're done", so it was cancelled. Just wanted to get the info out there so people would be aware of what went on rather than their BS they gave...

How sure is your source? it looks like there is decently thick gravel lot all the way to a concrete loading dock at the Zoo Amp.

[rlewis]

I know some of the people behind the concert, and they assured me that the cancellation was truly due to an illness.

[Edgar]

Doubt it. It was the only show scrubbed due to the "illness", ditto the Rascall Flats show at the Downtown Airpark cancelled due to a "illness." Illness is code for didn't sell enough tickets ahead of time and the promoter didn't want to take a bath. Haver a hunch the OKCcountryfest cannibalizing what little demand there is for live music in central Ok played a factor. There is a live music blight in central Ok. It's sad to look around the state and see all the good shows happening in Thackerville, Dooorant, Tulsa,Catoosa, Newkirk and we have The Oak Ridge Boys appearing at Riverwind. sigh

[Easy180]

It did seem highly suspicious to me that those two concerts were cancelled back to back due to illnesses.

[kevinpate]

I have no idea how many tickets were sold for WN and AKUS at the ZooAmp. Wwhile it may be just a faulty memory, I can't recall seeing another show this year or last that showed up so many times on Groupon and Living Social for discount tickets. Do not know if that signaled low demand or just a desire to try and pack the GA lawn.

[kelroy55]

It did seem highly suspicious to me that those two concerts were cancelled back to back due to illnesses.

There must be a bug going around

[TheTravellers]

How sure is your source? it looks like there is decently thick gravel lot all the way to a concrete loading dock at the Zoo Amp.

My source heard it from a guy on the local roadie crew, who was told that by Willie's roadie crew when they got to the Zoo Amp. Kind of makes sense because the rain we did have recently was massive, but still... Make it concrete all the way up, seriously, just do it right...

[rlewis]

From what I was told, sales for the Willie Nelson concert were not bad. The artist gets a guarantee, and many of the contracts require payment in full if the exhibitor cancels the performance. There would have been no incentive on the promoter's part to cancel that concert. Even if ticket sales didn't cover the guarantee, F&B sales would have made up for the shortfall.

I don't have any contacts with the folks at the river venue, so I have no idea what the story was behind that concert.

Anyway you slice it, the 2 venues need to avoid having concerts on the same night. All it does is hurt the local live music market. I know there is some bad blood between the 2 operators, but the local music fans shouldn't have to be in the crossfire.

[Mel]

I'd would have gone just to see Alison Krauss.

[TheTravellers]

...

Anyway you slice it, the 2 venues need to avoid having concerts on the same night. All it does is hurt the local live music market. I know there is some bad blood between the 2 operators, but the local music fans shouldn't have to be in the crossfire.

Yes, agreed! We were supposed to go to the Jeff Beck/ZZ Top show with someone, but after he got his ticket, the Offspring show was booked at the Airpark, and since he had seen ZZ Top, he's going to the Offspring show...

[kevinpate]

I'd would have gone just to see Alison Krauss.

Had planned to attend but my lovely's schedule didn't fit with a wed. event. Didn't want to go with anyone else. Perhaps it will be rescheduled, and hopefully for a weekend night. Between her singing and her cake decor teaching, not many week nights are open these days.

[Mel]

I guess until then we will have to make due with youtube vids.

[RadicalModerate]

I'd would have gone just to see Alison Krauss.

And Dan "The Man of Constant Sorrow" T. plus Jerry "Mr. Dobro" Douglas. =)

Willie "Meh" Nelson . . . not so much. (just kidding).

[Edgar]

From what I was told, sales for the Willie Nelson concert were not bad. The artist gets a guarantee, and many of the contracts require payment in full if the exhibitor cancels the performance. There would have been no incentive on the promoter's part to cancel that concert. Even if ticket sales didn't cover the guarantee, F&B sales would have made up for the shortfall.

I don't have any contacts with the folks at the river venue, so I have no idea what the story was behind that concert.

Anyway you slice it, the 2 venues need to avoid having concerts on the same night. All it does is hurt the local live music market. I know there is some bad blood between the 2 operators, but the local music fans shouldn't have to be in the crossfire.

Problem is promoters are at the mercy of a bands touring schedule, but a little collusion would be a good idea. And Mick needs to rethink the OKCfest if this is what it's going to do to the people trying to make a living promoting live music in a tough market. They may throw up their hands and give up.

[warreng88]

Problem is promoters are at the mercy of a bands touring schedule, but a little collusion would be a good idea. And Mick needs to rethink the OKCfest if this is what it's going to do to the people trying to make a living promoting live music in a tough market. They may throw up their hands and give up.

So, by your own logic, the people who put on Rocklahoma need to rethink it as well because what is it going to do to the people trying to make a living out of promoting music in Tulsa?

OKC can support both, it will just take a little while to see that there are multiple venues and multiple genres of music. The DT Airpark and Zoo both have similar types of shows going on and most of them do well. Usually when a concert is cancelled due to lack of tickets sales, that is the reason they cancel it, they don't change it to a band sickness.

The Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival with Avenged Sevenfold, Korn and others is happening on 8/7/2014. Should the Chameleon Room rethink booking Soulfly five days later because of that show?

The Summer Nationals Tour with The Offspring, Bad Religion and Pennywise is happening on 8/22/2014 at the DT Airpark, the same night as ZZ Top and Jeff Beck at the Zoo, then Faster *****cat at the Chameleon Room and Panic! At the Disco at the Zoo the next night. OKC has so many great venues for seeing live shows and it is obvious by the amount of bookings you can see. I think we need a couple of more smaller venues like what they have in Austin but with the Zoo and DT Airpark, we have two great outdoor venues. We will have the Chevy BT Event Center for the mid-size venue and then Chameleon Room, Diamond and the Conservatory for the smaller venues.

[Edgar]

So, by your own logic, the people who put on Rocklahoma need to rethink it as well because what is it going to do to the people trying to make a living out of promoting music in Tulsa?

OKC can support both, it will just take a little while to see that there are multiple venues and multiple genres of music. The DT Airpark and Zoo both have similar types of shows going on and most of them do well. Usually when a concert is cancelled due to lack of tickets sales, that is the reason they cancel it, they don't change it to a band sickness.

The Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival with Avenged Sevenfold, Korn and others is happening on 8/7/2014. Should the Chameleon Room rethink booking Soulfly five days later because of that show?

The Summer Nationals Tour with The Offspring, Bad Religion and Pennywise is happening on 8/22/2014 at the DT Airpark, the same night as ZZ Top and Jeff Beck at the Zoo, then Faster *****cat at the Chameleon Room and Panic! At the Disco at the Zoo the next night. OKC has so many great venues for seeing live shows and it is obvious by the amount of bookings you can see. I think we need a couple of more smaller venues like what they have in Austin but with the Zoo and DT Airpark, we have two great outdoor venues. We will have the Chevy BT Event Center for the mid-size venue and then Chameleon Room, Diamond and the Conservatory for the smaller venues.

Tulsa has an excellent music scene, it's central Ok that is the tough market so yes they'd be well advised not to book competing shows as we saw with the back to back days cancellations. It's market realities. The only cool venue OKC has is the Zoo and they ran off Innervisions for some reason. The farmers Market could have been but no one came out for the shows. The one genre that is money in central Ok is country/red dirt, and OKCfest totally cannabalized the demand.

[warreng88]

Maybe they should name it Juntafest next year, huh Edgar...

[Bullbear]

the music conversation on here just goes all over the place.. from we don't get enough shows to don't book competing shows because we cant handle it. People who love live music ( as I do ) don't mind back to back shows or a big full calendar. I myself go to several shows a month at least and they are usually out of state. so if more acts I wanted to see where here in my City and I didn't have to travel I would see even more!.. bring on the bookings

[Edgar]

I travel out of state and in state for live music also. Be nice to have more options locally but it's the hand we're dealt. Riverwind started out with a bang but now only book sure bets. oh well, nice to see other places.

[warreng88]

I travel out of state and in state for live music also. Be nice to have more options locally but it's the hand we're dealt. Riverwind started out with a bang but now only book sure bets. oh well, nice to see other places.

What kind of music do you listen to? What are five of your favorite bands? Maybe we can help you out.

[Snowman]

Maybe they should name it Juntafest next year, huh Edgar...

More aggressive branding would not hurt

[TheTravellers]

more accurate branding would not hurt

fify.

[Edgar]

What kind of music do you listen to? What are five of your favorite bands? Maybe we can help you out.

Not enough people would show up for some of my favorite live bands- Gov't Mule, widespread Panic, Little Feat, Black Crowes, others, unless you do some creative booking like some of the shows Innervisons put on at the Zoo like a Red Dirt family jam with the Black Crowes headlining. Love the blues but that's really a hard sell in Central Ok. Went to Grady's Rt66 pub in Yukon to hear Jimmy Thackery. There weren't 25 paying customer includeing me- embarrassing. Jimmy totally shredded as always, but they couldn't wait to pack up and get the hell out of town.
Jimmy Thackery - New Morning Club, Paris 1997 - YouTube
Thankfully there are many more options in Ok with the casinos hosting shows.

[mkjeeves]

Went to see Willie the last time he played the Zoo. We left after the first song. The drunks behind us were almost tolerable until several decided it was okay to smoke cigars.

Saw Allison Krauss with Robert Plant at the Zoo. We had better seats and a better crowd. It was good one.

Saw Alison Krauss and Union Station at the Ford Center. Great seats. Left way early after we gave up on the people directly behind us having a continuous conversation shouted at each other, in other words, at the back of our heads louder than the music, non-stop.

Locally it's about a 50/50 crapshoot, too many hicks half the time.