Echo and the Bunnymen latest to pull out of music festival

The National Staff

• Last Updated: November 07. 2009 6:12PM UAE / November 7. 2009 2:12PM GMT

DUBAI // Echo and the Bunnymen, the headline act for the final night of Dubai Sound City, have pulled out of the festival, becoming the fourth act in two days to not appear in one of the UAE's biggest music festivals.

Post-punk Echo and the Bunnymen was due to play on the main stage at Irish Village tonight. However, the performance was pulled after lead singer Ian McCulloch failed to board a plane in the UK.

De La Soul, an American hip-hop group; and the English DJ Kissy Sell Out were among 12 acts due to perform on the main stage at Irish Village last night. Both were pulled from the line-up for Day Two of the three-day festival.

On Thursday, another top act cancelled. Organisers attributed the non-appearance of the South African band The Dirty Skirts to visa problems.

The absence of De La Soul, best known for the 1989 songs Me Myself and I, Buddy and Eye Know, caused the biggest stir among fans. The band had been scheduled to play at Irish Village yesterday, just before the top-listed bands Happy Mondays and Ocean Colour Scene, but cancelled on Thursday.

Many fans found out about the withdrawal of De La Soul only by reading about it on the internet or when the group’s name suddenly disappeared from the line-up on Dubai Sound City’s website.

New Dawn, the concert organisers, said they had been “trying desperately but due to unforeseen circumstances De La Soul will not be performing. No one filling in their slot, but times have been shifted.”

Alex Bracken, the New Dawn chief executive, said on Thursday that legal discussions were under way between the band and the organisers.

As news of the cancellations filtered out, angry fans posted messages on the Dubai Sound City Facebook page.

Ghayyan al Amine, from Lebanon, wrote: “Man! I just got to Dubai a few hours ago to discover that De La have cancelled! I came over from Beirut just to see them. Not so cool.”

Abbie Dunn criticised the lack of communication surrounding the cancellation: “Amazing, everyone knew De La Soul had cancelled before the promoters tell us. Unimpressed.”

At about 3.30pm yesterday, Dubai Sound City posted a message on Facebook saying: “Sadly the rumours are true we’ve been trying desperately but due to unforeseen circumstances De La Soul will not be performing at today’s event. Apologies. Looking forward to Monday’s headlining.”

Delan Silva, a health insurance manager, said De La Soul was his only real reason for attending the concerts and thought about asking for his Dh295 entrance fee back.

“My fiancée and I are not at all keen on the other artists.

“The organisers don’t need to apologise for De La Soul cancelling but they should have at least had the courtesy to inform people who have paid money to see a band that they aren’t coming.”

Other fans, however, praised the weekend of music. Damir Mulic said the first night, headlined by the 1980s synth-pop band Human League, was “incredible” and he was looking forward to the rest of the festival.

Tonight, Super Furry Animals are now due to be the final act of the festival at Irish Village, taking the stage at 11pm. Acts at other venues in Dubai will be performing until the early hours of the morning.



newsdesk@thenational.ae