Buju Banton’s Overcomer Tour sees multiple cancellations
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Several shows on reggae superstar Buju Banton’s Overcomer Tour have reportedly been cancelled.
News emerged on Monday that the singer’s Boston show, scheduled for August 30 at the TD Garden Arena, has been cancelled, according to the arena’s website. Ticketmaster also shows that the September 1, 2024, concert in Philadelphia, PA, at the Wells Fargo Center has been cancelled. Another show, previously set for September 6 at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, has also been called off. Refunds are available at the point of purchase.
The show scheduled for September 8 at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, is apparently still on. Reports suggest that this event, set to take place in the state where Buju was previously incarcerated, is selling well.
The reason for the cancellations has not yet been disclosed. Banton’s publicist, Ronnie Tomlinson, stated that she is checking to see if the previously announced dates will be “rescheduled and not cancelled” before issuing an official statement.
A few weeks ago, the singer’s management had already announced that five September dates (Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, Inglewood, and Chicago) had been rescheduled.
“I would like to inform you that the Overcomer Tour is not cancelled! I can’t wait to see you all! Please note that we will be rescheduling the dates in Phoenix, AZ, Inglewood, CA, Houston, TX, Dallas, TX, and Chicago, IL,” Gargamel said at the time via his verified Instagram account.
The Overcomer Tour was being promoted as Buju Banton’s triumphant return to U.S. soil after his deportation following a drug-related conviction. The 51-year-old reggae and dancehall legend, born Mark Myrie, was released from Georgia’s McRae Correctional Facility in 2018.
The “Til Shiloh” singer recently performed in Fort Lauderdale at the Amerant Bank Arena on August 23, although the arena was reportedly not at full capacity. He also performed at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, on August 25.
Buju’s Overcomer Tour follows two sold-out shows at the UBS Arena in New York last month, which drew over 36,000 concertgoers.
The original dates in Atlanta, Georgia, and Hartford, Connecticut, remain scheduled for September. The other dates in August include performances in Washington, DC, and Boston.
Ticket sales for tours, especially in large arenas, have reportedly been trending downward. Experts suggest this could be due to a decrease in disposable income available for live shows. This trend could pose challenges for reggae artists, who typically rely heavily on tours to generate income, given that they often don’t perform as well in sales or streaming.
-Claude Mills
