The Martha’s Vineyard Summer Concert Series announced July 7 that performer Aretha Franklin has canceled her concert scheduled for the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs on Saturday, August 19.
In a press release, Innovation Arts & Entertainment stated that Ms. Franklin has also canceled scheduled concerts in Chicago, Chautauqua, N.Y., and Toronto “due to health reasons.”
Refunds for tickets purchased are already in the works, according to the press release. Refunds will appear on the card used in the cardholder’s next statement; it may take five to seven days for the refund to appear in an account online.
Adam Epstein with Innovation Arts & Entertainment said in a phone call with The Times that his organization tried to find a performer who might be able to step in and fill the concert date, but that was virtually impossible.
“We’ve exhausted opportunities for something to match this caliber,” Mr. Epstein said. “We wouldn’t want to put someone in there that wasn’t of the same status as Ms. Franklin.”
He explained that scheduling appearances is a complicated process, meaning that a performer would have to have an opening in their schedule, be willing to travel for one show, and be able to get all their equipment and their travel team in place on short notice.
He stressed that the Summer Concert Series is committed to honoring the trust ticket holders place in them.
“Of course we’re very concerned about Ms. Franklin’s well-being, but this is not indicative of what we do,” Mr. Epstein said. “We want to be very conscious of the trust people place in us when they buy tickets.”
Refunds for the full cost of the tickets have already been issued, he explained, and he said, “We’re going to keep going out there and bringing big acts to the Island.”
There were upwards of 2,500 tickets already sold for pavilion and lawn seating, according to Mr. Epstein.
This story was originally published on mvtimes.com
