What the Frank?
It seems that artists cancelling shows have become a trend in Australia, with the latest disappointment being Frank Ocean.
Ocean pulled out due to a vocal tear after only performing one show at Melbourne’s Festival Hall on July 25.
Though it may have been best to rest his voice, it still left fans unhappy and disappointed.
Frank Ocean; middle name: ‘Shouldn’t Have Bothered Flying Across The’.
— Michael Beveridge (@mickyb273) July 26, 2013
WE ALL TRY FRANK OCEAN WHY DONT YOU DO THE SAMEEEEE
— noeL ed erdnA (@andreofleon) July 26, 2013
After all, this isn’t the first time Ocean has bailed on Australian fans.
Ocean dropped out of the 2012 Future Music Festival days before the event because he was committed to finishing his debut studio album, Channel ORANGE.
All seemed to be forgiven with his second highly anticipated visit this year until Live Nation Australia and New Zealand announced on Twitter and Facebook that his remaining shows would be cancelled.
Regrettably we can confirm that Frank Ocean’s remaining Australian shows have been cancelled. Standby for further information.
— Live Nation AUS & NZ (@LiveNationOzNz) July 26, 2013
This included his headliner appearance at Splendour In The Grass.
And because of tight tour plans, the shows couldn’t be rescheduled.
Ticket holders were able to obtain a full refund from the point of purchase for the cancelled dates.
Frank Ocean fan Moria Hariza felt gutted about the news.
“I found out only a couple of hours before the show which was definitely late notice,” she says.
“The most frustrating thing was that the show he cancelled was originally the first Melbourne show and the show he did the night before was the second.”
Moria had experienced several cancellations before, including Ocean’s dropout from Future Music last year and another a few years ago with The Wombats who cancelled their show earlier in the day.
Whether it is reasonable for artists to cancel on short notice is a big issue.
“I don’t think it’s reasonable at all, some fans would have probably flown in from different states to see the only three side shows he was doing in Australia. However, I’m sure there was reasoning behind it all,” says Moria, a fan that missed out.
Other artists who have cancelled their shows this year include Stereophonics, dropping out of their second and final show in Melbourne at the Palace Theatre on July 23 due to health related issues as well.
But there seems to be no apparent solution to the problem due to the unpredictable nature of events.
“Come back Ocean! You owe us,” says Moria.
Ocean has some making up to do. Photo by: david_hwang via Flickr
But there’s no telling when he’ll back in Australia for another tour.
Frank Ocean also cancelled his appearances at Montreal’s Osheaga Festival and Toronto’s OVO Festival this week due to his ongoing vocal injury.
