Buju Flowed, Lil Wayne A No Show At Bahamas Mega Concert

A highly publicized concert for which many showgoers had paid hundreds and even thousands of dollars for entry ended with a hail of drinks being thrown onstage after the main act - multi-million selling rap artist Lil' Wayne - was a no-show.

Some angry ticket holders, who in some cases had travelled from outside of Nassau to see the act over the weekend, eventually had to be dispersed by police and yesterday complained they had been "duped" by promoters.

Sources in Bahamas stated that the non-appearance by the American artist was related to "money issues." The outcome did not chime well with the hype on the official website promoting the show, which warned attendees to expect a "legendary ...once in a lifetime concert" from the rapper.

Promoters for the event, Red City Entertainment said that a full statement would be forthcoming on the matter, although up to press time none was received.

The "Poppin' Bottles" concert at the Bristol Wine and Spirits grounds on Gladstone Road, organised by Red City Entertainment, had already been delayed by a day when it took place on Saturday evening.

Slated to perform was topbilled act, Lil Wayne, along with reggae star Buju Banton and a host of Bahamian stars.

Turning up to the show grounds on the evening on which the concert was originally scheduled to take place, Friday night, one event-goer told The Tribune that he was informed that the company hired to provide the stage and other equipment were taking it down as they had allegedly not received the money they were expecting for their work.

Advised to return on Saturday, also Lil' Wayne's birthday, thousands of show-goers stood through periodic rain storms waiting to see the much-hyped American rap star - but after 3am the artist had yet to come on stage and ticket-holders knew that something was wrong.

However, around half an hour after Buju Banton finished his performance on Saturday, Bahamian MC DJ Pencil came on stage and told those in attendance that Lil Wayne would not be appearing.

A VIP ticket-holder said: "People started throwing their cups and bottles on stage ...I don't think anyone got hurt, but you could tell people were leaving and were like 'I can't believe I spent my money on this'."

Also available were several $20,000 "sky boxes" from which to view the event, which could fit 20 people and offered other special treatment.

Only on Friday had promoter Lisa "Red" Tottle told another local daily that the event would be "the bomb" and stepped forward to dispel "rumours going around that Lil Wayne is not coming to town."

Ms Tottle said that she had "built a relationship" with "Lil Wayne and his people" and so organising the event "wasn't hard to do."

She is reported in The Nassau Guardian as saying, "I want it to be public knowledge that I do have a valid contract with Lil Wayne, Buju Banton and Bird-man. Now I know people don't want to believe that he's coming because many people have promised this and (the artists) didn't (show), but guess what, we're delivering the goods."

Tickets were sold at a cost of $45 for general admission, $80 for VIP, and $200 for "platinum", which included free drinks and food. The event was advertised as having high-powered sponsors, including Bristol Wines and Spirits, BTC and Bacardi Rum.


The Reggae News Agency

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