Scribe and P-Money's Rotorua concert cancelled<

By MIKE MATHER in Rotorua
Scribe and P-Money's eagerly awaited Rotorua concert has been cancelled because of low ticket sales.

The concert was part of P-Money's nationwide tour and also included hip hop stars Con Psy, PNC and D-Form.

It is understood that by Tuesday, only about 50 tickets had been sold for the Friday gig at the Rotorua Sportsdrome.

Promoters had been hoping for about 1000 punters, but with ticket sales so slow, the plug was reluctantly pulled.

However hopes are high that P-Money at least will still play in Rotorua this weekend at another venue.

Rotorua promoter Jonathan Armstrong said while a combination of factors had put the brakes on ticket sales, the popularity of the artists was never in question.

Rather, it was a lack of disposable income among Rotorua's younger music fans, combined with a scheduling clash with other gigs in the city - including a free concert at the Rotorua Youth Centre - that had kept prospective punters from shelling out for tickets.

Event Venues operations manager Jolene Elliot said she was at a loss to explain the lack of pre-sales for the show, but supported the promoters' decision to cancel, rather than go ahead and risk a massive financial loss.

"It's very disappointing. The costs were kept quite reasonable at $25 a head and it was an all ages event. I'm sure Scribe's audience are quite wide and not just the die-hard hip hop fans.

"Sometimes it's really surprising what sells and what doesn't.

"I would have thought the Rotorua youth market would have been ideal. It's also central for other people to travel from Tauranga, Whakatane and Taupo [where gigs are not being played]."

Other factors, including a large number of entries through a Daily Post competition for tickets to the gig, indicated there was no shortage of local Scribe and P-Money fans in Rotorua.

Those mourning the loss of their heroes can at least take some consolation in the announcement of another gig by some other big names in the New Zealand hip hop scene - The Misfits of Science are playing the Rotorua Soundshell next Wednesday night.

Named after an obscure 80s American sitcom, Misfits of Science's debut single Fools Love spent four weeks at No 1 and more than four months in the top 10.

The Misfits of Science show is also an all-ages one and costs $20. Doors open at 7pm.

For more views on the concert cancellation see today's Daily Post