Promotions giant Big Concerts yesterday said that it was bringing Groban to South Africa in June or July.
But Duncan Heafield — whose Kusasa Entertainment was reportedly shunned by Groban’s management after the Celine Dion tour — claims that it still has a contract with the singer.
Big Concerts’ marketing manager, Michael Anetakis, said yesterday that his company had been asked by Groban’s agent to step in after Kusasa’s “mess-up with the Celine Dion concert”.
“We have been in discussions for a while. We will bring Josh Groban to South Africa in June or July. Dates have not been confirmed,” he said.
Anetakis said he would not comment on Heafield’s claim that his contract with Groban was still in force.
But Heafield said: “We have a contract with Josh Groban and we will have to hear from him that [the deal with Big Concerts] is true. We have not heard anything from him so there is still a contract as far as we know.”
Heafield claimed Groban would be in South Africa in September.
Groban’s agent, Brian Avnet, cancelled the March tour after what was described as a “disastrous Celine Dion concert”.
In a press statement, Groban’s publicist said the tour was postponed because of “logistical obligations” that Heafield could not guarantee, such as seating and traffic management, signs and toilets — all problems at the Dion concerts.
Following the postponement of Groban’s tour, Big Concerts said it was negotiating to take over the tour. But Heafield insisted that his contract with the singer was still valid.
Yesterday, he said the tour had been postponed until all problems had been resolved and that Groban would perform in South Africa in terms of his contract with Kusasa.
“We [can] give them guarantees and solutions to their requirements, but at this stage we are still in negotiations about a date.”
Penny Stein Promotions, which announced the postponement of the March tour, said yesterday that no dates had been set for a new tour. Stein would not say which promoter was bringing Groban to South Africa.
Source: The Times (South Africa)
