Dutch Mason Blues Festival cancellations, organizers upset Matt Minglewood

A musician in Cape Breton says he's been angered by organizers of the Dutch Mason Blues Festival and how they've treated other scheduled musical acts in light of recent cancellations.

Matt Minglewood was planning to make the drive to Halifax to play one of three outdoor concerts at Alderney Landing this weekend. But he says he got an impersonal email on Tuesday informing him those events were cancelled.

"Ah, betrayed comes to mind," said Minglewood from his home in Glace Bay, N.S. 

"Four days before and we get a generic email — not even a phone call. I'm disappointed, very disappointed in how it was done."

Minglewood said he feels left out in the cold by the festival's promoters and organizers.

"The minute they sniff that it's going to cost them, the musicians are the guys that pay, especially the musicians from around the Maritimes — not the American ones because they would have received huge deposits already so they have to cover that."

Festival organizers recently cancelled three days worth of shows at Alderney Landing from Aug. 7 to 9. The only show that remains will feature Bonnie Raitt, James Cotton and a few other performers at the Dartmouth Sportsplex on Saturday.

'The whole move was a surprise'

Festival producer David DeWolfe said three main factors contributed to the decision.

First, ticket sales were low for the outdoor concerts. Second, the weather forecast for the weekend is rainy, discouraging walk-up purchases. Third, Tour Tech East — the sound and lighting company contracted for the concerts — is experiencing financial difficulties.

"Actually, I'm sorry and disappointed to hear that Matt is feeling that way," DeWolfe said.

"I was hoping he'd feel more of a concern over the Dutch Mason Blues Festival not happening this year. Every other artist that has been involved that has contacted me has been more understanding and can appreciate that was a difficult, tough call to have to make."

DeWolfe says it wasn't his choice to move the festival from Truro to Dartmouth, where it's been held for several years. 

He said organizers weren't able to come to an agreement with the management of the Truro Raceway. 

"That whole move was a surprise to us as it was to everyone else," he said.

"They made the announcement that they thought that we were no longer a good fit for their venue. We found that that out by reading it in the newspaper."

But Minglewood says the musicians are the ones who will pay the price for the cancellations.

"Not only am I out for what I'm not getting paid for this one, I'm also out for a weekend that I could have been working somewhere else. So it's a significant hit."

When asked if Minglewood will ever work with this promoter again, he said, "Sure, but my price just doubled, which means I will never play for them because they won't pay it."

As for the future, DeWolfe says he's not going to let this setback kill the festival.

"Keep in mind that lots of festivals have bad years, good years and our intention is to move forward and struggle forward and every year is a struggle to put this festival on."