Musician cancels show at Bass Concert Hall citing campus carry concerns
Singer Ray LaMontagne has canceled his nearly sold-out concert at the University of Texas over the recently enacted campus carry law. Many fans are upset that his decision comes just two days before he was set to perform.
Ray LaMontagne performed in Phoenix last Thursday. That's what Austin fans were looking forward to but instead, they got this email: "The Ray LaMontagne performance scheduled for Thursday, September 22nd has been canceled."
All because of the campus carry law, which took effect August 1st. Courtney Newbolt bought tickets months ago.
"You know, this wasn't supposed to be a political thing or anything about that. We were supposed to enjoy his music and get to escape for a little while," Courtney Newbolt, bought ticket.
His decision comes two days before his performance at Bass Concert Hall at the University of Texas. A place that now allows licensed holders to carry concealed handguns.
"There have been huge student protests on campus against campus carry and so, it seems like they are the ones getting affected by this because they wanted to see his show. They're not even in support of the thing he's protesting," says Audrey Loomis, UT freshman.
"I was so mad because I've been so excited," says Newbolt.
Ray LaMontagne is the first performing artist to cancel a show at UT Austin due to campus carry.
The university sent us this statement:
"Good for him for standing up for what he believes in but it's really just a timing thing. To do it two days before a concert, when you had to have known that it was already in effect before, why wait until the last minute?" says Newbolt.
If you purchased tickets using a credit card you will be automatically refunded starting Wednesday. Otherwise, you're asked to contact the Texas Performing Arts Ticket Office at (512) 471-1444.
Ray LaMontagne has canceled his September 22 show at Bass Concert Hall citing concerns over the recently enacted campus carry law at the University of Texas. The law went into effect on August 1.
In a post of his official Facebook page the musician wrote in part that "no matter how hard I try to understand the rationale for allowing guns on campus or more broadly, the ‘concealed carry’ law in general, I just cannot in any way support that ideology."
He added that "there are a lot of things this country needs more of, but guns aren't one of them."
The full text of the Facebook post is as follows:
This Thursday's show at Bass Concert Hall in Austin, TX has been cancelled due to concerns over The University of Texas’ recently enacted campus carry law, which allows licensed holders to carry concealed handguns in the venue during the performance. I consider myself to be a very open minded human being, and I always try and see things from another’s point of view. I realize this is a controversial issue and there are strong feelings on both sides of it. But no matter how hard I try to understand the rationale for allowing guns on campus or more broadly, the ‘concealed carry’ law in general, I just cannot in any way support that ideology.
There are a lot of things this country needs more of, but guns aren’t one of them.
On behalf of myself and the band, and everyone involved in the tour, I want to express our collective disappointment in the decision to allow guns on campus, and within the campus venue.
All tickets will be refunded at the point of purchase.