Raggamuffin hits stumbling block

Sideshows scheduled in Sydney and Melbourne this month for New Zealand’s Raggamuffin festival have been postponed after promoter OneWorld Entertainment decided to push the NZ event back to November.

Raggamuffin X was to be held on Saturday February 18 at The Trusts Arena in Auckland.

The bill included co-headliner Shaggy, The Wailers featuring Family Man a.k.a. Aston Barrett, Ky-Mani Marley, Morgan Heritage, Jamaica’s Conkarah, Hawaii’s Kiwini and Jah Maoli, plus a New Zealand contingent featuring co-headliner Six60, The Black Seeds, Herbs, Salmonella Dub, House of Shem and Lomez Brown.

A number of acts – including Shaggy, Six60, Julian Marley and The Wailers – were to cross the Tasman and play as the Raggamuffin All Stars at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena on Sunday February 19 and at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Tuesday February 21.

Festival promoter, Melbourne-based Andrew McManus, said slow ticket sales for the festival and an extremely busy events market in Auckland meant it is no longer viable to hold Raggamuffin X this weekend.

“Ticket sales for the Festival have slowed in recent weeks and appear to have been impacted by various factors including an announcement that train services will now not be available on the event date due to track work being done,” McManus said.

“Patron comfort, security and the importance of protecting local suppliers is paramount and was at the forefront of this decision. With these factors in mind, we have no option but to postpone Raggamuffin X to November 2017.

“This will give us time to work through campaigns and the overall success of the project both in New Zealand and for associated concerts in Australia.”

Refunds will be offered although McManus said that the festival headliners had assured him they would be available to be in New Zealand for the planned November dates.

There is also a possibility that it may not be held in Auckland but in another city allowing for camping options.