‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ singer Oliver Anthony cancels show over high ticket prices: ‘Supposed to be affordable’By Joshua Lynch
Published Sep. 14, 2023
Singer Oliver Anthony, 31, canceled his concert in Tennessee when the venue charged $99 for tickets and nearly double for a meet and greet, pleading with fans not to spend the hefty price tag.
Anthony, the Virginia artist behind the viral “Rich Men North of Richmond” tune, was scheduled to perform at the “Cotton Eyed Joe” bar in Knoxville before he and the venue couldn’t come to an agreement over the pricing.
The venue charged $99 for standard tickets and around $200 for a package that includes an opportunity to meet the singer, according to WVLT.
The country-folk singer expressed in a rant in multiple Facebook posts that he wants his shows to be an affordable low-cost experience, calling the meet-and-greet fee “horses—t” and “supposed to be free.”
“I apologize for the price at Cotton Eyed Joe,” Anthony said Tuesday. “Have a friend of mine trying to help me book gigs. I told him I don’t want to do anything that’s more than $40 a ticket, ideally no more than $25 a piece. These are supposed to be affordable shows. Please don’t pay $90 for a ticket.”
“Ultimately, it’s my fault for not being more directly involved with the venues who have reached out. My plate has been full and I delegated the responsibility to someone else to help me book,” Anthony explained in a separate post.
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Source:
https://nypost.com/2023/09/14/oliver-anthony-tells-fans-not-to-buy-90-tickets-cancels-show-in-defiance-of-venue-supposed-to-be-affordable/