The inaugural Grassroots event – which was to be held over Easter Weekend on Puhinui Peninsula, Auckland and featured iconic artists BB King, Grace Jones, Elvis Costello and Ben Harper – has been canceled due to poor ticket sales, because of the Christchurch quake

Promoter Manolo Echave told Stuff.co.nz Christchurch’s devastating 6.3 earthquake had directly affected ticket sales to the point where launching a new two-day festival was no longer feasible.

It’s the latest in a string of gig cancellations – but most shows have been pulled from earthquake-ravaged Christchurch,. Some of the artists that have pulled out of Christchurch include Queens of the Stone Age, Carlos Santana, Weird Al Yankovic, Kyuss, Michelle Shocked, Mavis Staples, Donavon Frankenreiter, Stan Walker and Justin Townes Earle all pulled out of their Christchurch shows following the quake which you could understand with venues and faculties being out of order. But their wasn’t a Quake in Auckland.

This comes as 6000 people attend Legends of league at Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium fund raiser.
Maybe if they donate some of the proceeds to Christchurch ticket sales would pick up?

What do you think?
Should they have canceled the festival because of poor ticket sales or tried to turn it in to a fundrasier for Christchurch?

Until next time keep rockin’
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
www.0800jukebox.co.nz