R&B artist Keyshia Cole released a statement to disappointed concert-goers in Eastern Carolina yesterday.
Cole was scheduled to perform at the Greenville Convention Center Saturday, but fans, who lined up hours before the concert, were turned away an hour after the concert was supposed to start.
Cole’s management said the show was canceled due to the promoter’s inability to provide basic production, including sound, lighting, staging and general safety requirements.
“To the City Of Greenville and all my fans, I sincerely want to apologize for the cancellation of my concert Saturday nigh,” Keyshia Cole said in a statement. “I was ready to give you all a great show. Upon my arrival to the venue, not only was the stage not secure but the sound system was not connected. The promoter, Lorenzo Ferguson of Next Level Ent., did not have adequate lighting, microphones, and other key equipment essentials that he was to provide.
“My staff as well as The Greenville Convention staff worked tirelessly to try and rectify the situation. Ultimately, it was clear that I was not going to be able to perform with no sound and lights and by 7 p.m. still nothing was working!! I have done a show with Mr. Ferguson in the past so he absolutely knows what was needed. I always want to give my fans the absolute best Keyshia Cole show possible. I am truly disappointed and deeply saddened at the turn of events.”
Ferguson later said fans could get their refunds by bringing their tickets to the Greenville Convention Center Monday after 1 p.m., but he never showed up.
According to WNCT, the event promoter, Lorenzo Ferguson, said he worked with Cole before and never had problem. He said the cancellation only hurt the fans.
“She walked in she saw the stage. She complained about the building and she said she wasn’t going to perform. We did everything we could to accommodate what she was looking for and what she needed, but she basically said she wasn’t going to perform because it wasn’t adequate enough for her. I just hope at the city understands that this is definitely a situation, where I did everything possible to make this deal happen,” said Ferguson.
Cole’s Twitter page later confirmed that she thought the stage wasn’t stable enough to perform. She also apologized.
If you purchased your tickets through the convention center with a credit card, just call them for a refund. If you purchased tickets with cash, you can go to the convention center and pick up your refund.
If you purchased your tickets through another venue, you can contact Next Level Incorporated at (305)-746-3799.