Editorial: Mission Concert ticket holders in holding pattern

Mission Concert organisers have been tasked with securing an act good enough to retain the interest of ticket holders. Photo / File

As I've mentioned previously, much of the Mission Concert's magic comes courtesy the citizen guesswork leading up to the act's big reveal.

It's a uniquely Hawke's Bay phenomenon entailing the three stages of speculation, anticipation and post-disclosure pontification.

In these parts the announcement features in more conversations and garners more public scrutiny than news of a new mayor.

What we can glean from this — besides the truth that art trumps politics — is that our annual pastoral fixture resonates rather deeply.

Even after losing its status as the most alcohol-friendly soiree since Woodstock, the Greenmeadows gig has morphed into much more than sauv and song.

And if there's a silver lining in the scrubbing of Neil Diamond it's that the pre-announcement fervour is playing out for a second time in a year.

Mouth-watering stuff.

Still, the clock's ticking. We're in a ticket-holder holding pattern. What's on the table are the accommodation plans, travel and time off work for 26,000-odd punters.

Then there's the hospitality folk, security, groundworks staff and roadies. Dealt an unenviable blow, organisers can't afford to kick the can for too long.

On Wednesday last week Diamond celebrated his 77th birthday. To secure someone with the Brooklyn balladeer's appeal, at short notice, is a pipe dream.

Pulling the plug is one option.

The other is to unearth an act of reasonable calibre to ensure a commercially viable billing.

Whoever it is needs to pique the interest of thousands of jilted Neil Diamond fans contemplating their next move.