Big Show Off As Gabasiane Arrives Late
Award-winning jazz singer Punah Gabasiane on Saturday night turned up late for a scheduled show, leading to the cancellation of her concert.
Gabasiane was to perform at Club Havana but she kept anxious revellers and nightclub owner Steven Raman waiting for hours.
DJ Prince Dingalo played old classics as everyone waited for the songbird. Around 11 p.m. it became doubtful whether she would pitch up at all.
But after midnight some of Gabasiane’s band members arrived, carrying their instruments. But before they could set up their instruments, an irate Raman ordered the band out. Raman also refunded the revellers who had paid for the aborted show. A disappointed Raman said he lost a lot of money he used to advertise the show on radio. On Friday, the club featured another jazz divah, Nono Siite whose show Raman said went well.
When contacted, Gabasiane said she had agreed earlier with the club management that her show would start at midnight. She said unfortunately she arrived 15 minutes late and her manager apologised for the group. However, she said Raman told them that the show was off. Gabasiane said the nightclub shows usually start late because “revellers only come in after midnight”.
She said they were held up at a charity show where she was supporting KTM choir. She added that the charity concert was supposed to end at 11.30 pm and she felt she would be on time for the Club Havanna jig. But she said at the end of the concert, there was a grand finale where she had to sing with KTM choir. Gabasiane said even though she was doing the charity concert for free, she could not snub the KTM choir because she used to be a member.
Gabasiane said it was unfortunate that their late coming led to the cancellation of the show. She said there was nothing she could do since she was not the one who organised the show.
However, DJ Dingalo denied Gabasiane’s claims that they had agreed with her that the show would start at midnight. He said it was supposed to start by 11.30 pm at the latest. “Punah attended the Friday show and she saw what time it started,” he said. He said Gabasiane’s band had not even done the sound check.
Dingalo said earlier on when he called Gabasiane she told him that everything would go according to plan.
He said they were under pressure because people were demanding to be refunded.
Raman said they never agreed with Gabasiane that she would start her show at midnight. He said they expected her to turn up at least by 10.00 p.m. Raman said he could not have kicked the band out if they were late by 15 minutes.
He said as much as he would like to support local acts the musicians should be professional in their approach to business.
Source: Mmegi/The Reporter
