Ottawa Reggae Fest Shut Down
August 22, 2010 | Category: Concerts, News Break, Reggae
Ottawa’s Reggae Festival was shut down after headliners failed to show up and the sheriff came and took all the money at the gate and beer tent. I am just glad that no fights broke out. Full story from the Ottawa Citizen below.
Nembhard had been hired last year and given a mandate to ensure the festival paid its bills and spent its money properly, he said. “The festival was in jeopardy prior to me joining because it had significant debt,†he said.
 The festival’s former chief financial officer described the organization’s finances as a mess and said some artists were overpaid and some were never paid in full.
The money-losing festival, which received funding from three levels of government in 2009, was plagued with many late starts and a few no-shows last year.Â
Nembhard, who declined interviews last year, acknowledged Saturday that headliner Shaggy initially refused to perform at the 2009 show at the last minute because he hadn’t been paid his full $44,000 U.S. fee before taking the stage.
“We gave him around $30,000 before he went on stage and I gave him my word that he would be wired the remainder the next day. Sadly, thanks to the festival, my promise was broken.â€
The money had already been spent, he said, and Nembhard still feels bad about it. Mind you, he also questioned why the festival organizer would agree to pay Shaggy $44,000 U.S., plus expenses, including a first-class flight, even though the singer hadn’t had a hit single in years.
 “All of the decisions were being made by a single individual, Benjamin Williams, and the directors of the festival were put in financial peril,†Nembhard said.
In fact, he said two other former directors on the festival’s board quit last year after using their own credit cards to cover costs for the stage and booze. Nembhard was on the hook for $14,000 from last year’s festival after he footed the bill for the beer.
He sued and last week a court judgment ordered the money seizure from the festival and its president, Williams, who, according to court records, didn’t file a statement of defence.
Last night, some reggae fans were stunned to find out that Marley and other big acts had pulled out.
James Tremblay, 20, drove from Montreal to see Marley. “This sucks. I really wanted to see him.â€
Jose and Patricia Gaspard paid $90 to see Marley and other acts play Saturday night.
“At the end of the day, if their three main players aren’t showing up, what’s the point of this festival,†said Jose Gaspard. They weren’t giving out refunds last night and about 100 fans were taking in local acts around 8 p.m.
In a 2009 interview, the reggae festival organizer said he needed about 9,000 fans to make the festival a success. That didn’t happen last year, and Saturday night’s turnout, in the rain no less, was miserably poor.
Marley apologized to fans on his official Facebook page, but did not give a reason why he never showed.
Tags: Festival, Ottawa, Reggae
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