Reggae superstar Buju Banton’s highly anticipated Overcomer Tour has hit a snag, with several shows unexpectedly cancelled. News broke on Monday that the August 30th show in Boston at the TD Garden Arena was called off, as confirmed by the arena’s website. Soon after, Ticketmaster revealed that the September 1st concert in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center and the September 6th show at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, had also been cancelled. Fans who purchased tickets are being offered refunds at their point of purchase.
Despite the string of cancellations, there is still hope for Buju’s fans in Atlanta, Georgia, where the September 8th show at the State Farm Arena remains on the schedule. Interestingly, ticket sales for this event, set to take place in the same state where Buju was once incarcerated, are reportedly doing well.
- Advertisement -
The reasons behind these sudden cancellations are yet to be disclosed. Buju’s publicist, Ronnie Tomlinson, has stated that she is currently investigating whether the affected shows will be rescheduled rather than completely cancelled, and an official statement will be issued soon.
This isn’t the first time the Overcomer Tour has faced disruptions. Just a few weeks ago, Buju’s management announced that five September dates in Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, Inglewood, and Chicago had been rescheduled. At the time, Buju reassured his fans through his verified Instagram account, emphasizing that the tour was not cancelled and that new dates would be announced soon.
The Overcomer Tour was meant to mark Buju Banton’s triumphant return to the U.S. after his deportation following a drug-related conviction. The 51-year-old legend, who was released from Georgia’s McRae Correctional Facility in 2018, had performed recently in Fort Lauderdale and Tampa, although reports suggest that attendance was not at full capacity.
Buju’s tour comes on the heels of two sold-out shows at New York’s UBS Arena last month, which saw over 36,000 concertgoers in attendance. However, the recent cancellations highlight the challenges facing live music events, especially in large arenas, as ticket sales across the industry have been trending downward. Experts believe that a decline in disposable income for entertainment might be contributing to this trend, posing additional challenges for reggae artists who often rely heavily on touring for income.
As fans await further updates, the uncertainty surrounding the Overcomer Tour leaves many wondering what the future holds for Buju Banton’s return to the U.S. stage.
