Last minute cancellation by The Moffatts, A1 upsets HCMC fans

By Tan Cao   August 8, 2022 | 01:21 am PT
Canada's The Moffatts and the U.K.'s A1 had withdrawn from a HCMC music show at the last minute citing health problems, disappointing many fans.

Both groups were supposed to perform with boyband 911, headlining the "Touch your heart" music show on Sunday night. However, they canceled shortly before the show and only 911 hit the stage.

The show was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., but it didn't begin until after 8 p.m.

After other singers performed for more than an hour, the MC announced The Moffatts and A1 could not make it to the show.

According to MC Trung Nghia, the artists are suffering from health issues as a result of the weather.

On the evening of Aug. 6, the groups spent several hours performing in the rain at a music festival in Hanoi. They flew to HCMC the day after and took part in a rehearsal at Hoa Binh Theater.

Near the start of the show, both boybands announced their members didn’t feel well and had to rest at the hotel.

The Moffatts also made a video apology to the audience, which they sent to the organizers and played at the concert.

Members of boyband The Moffatts apologize to the audience for not being able to attend the Touch Your Heart music show in HCMC on August 7, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Thuc

Members of boyband The Moffatts apologize to the audience for not being able to attend the "Touch your heart" music show in HCMC on August 7, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Thuc

Many spectators were outraged, particularly fans who had purchased tickets to see their favorite artists.

Someone jumped up from their seat when they heard the news, exclaiming, "What's going on?" and "I'm here for The Moffatts."

Many people expressed their displeasure with the organizers' actions.

Vu Thu Trang, 30, said the she and four other friends were unable to travel to Hanoi to see A1 performing, so they were overjoyed when they learned that the group would be performing in HCMC. They purchased the most expensive tickets in order to be seated close to the stage.

"Now I feel cheated and unappreciated. We request that the organizers find a satisfactory solution," she said.

Alisa, a 35-year-old Filipino A1 fan who is living and working in HCMC, waited in the lobby after the concert in the hopes of meeting the organizers to resolve the issue and get her ticket refunded.

She ended up leaving after hearing from another Vietnamese spectator that there is nothing she could do.

Many viewers were also disappointed because the show was intended for international stars, but the scale of investment, sound and light quality were not up to par. The stage was only rudimentary, with a led screen and overhead lighting.

"The sound, light, and stage were too amateurish," Le Duc Hiep, a 30 year-old- spectator, commented.

An Le, 36, stated that she purchased tickets through the fanpage's hotline beginning in early August.

She enjoyed 911’s performances, but she is dissatisfied with how the event was organized.

English pop group performs at the Touch Your Heart music show in HCMC. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Thuc

English pop group performs at the "Touch Your Heart" music show in HCMC. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Thuc

Initially, she was told that the show would be held at Lan Anh Stage, but the organizer later changed the venue to Hoa Binh Theater via an email sent the night before the event.

The program's organizers have not responded to media or audience questions.

With a capacity of holding up thousands of people, but only 200 people attended the concert.

When English pop group 911 performed, the MC invites those in the back row or further away to move up closer to the stage.

The group also invited audiences to stand up and dance to their songs. They stayed until the end of the show to pose for photos with Vietnamese fans.

 
 
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