Last spring, Halifax’s now-infamous “concert scandal” broke when city staffer Cathie O’Toole revealed that mayor Peter Kelly and the city’s deputy CAO, Wayne Anstey, had improperly extended millions of dollars in loans to concert promoter Harold MacKay’s firm, Power Promotional Events, and that the last two of those loans, totalling $400,000, were not repaid. Anstey […]
Metallica
Posted inNews + Opinion
Deal with Harold MacKay makes city look bad, weakens bargaining position with TCL
I was wrong: contrary to my earlier supposition, the payment from Harold MacKay to the city just before the Metallica show was in fact related to the concert loan scandal, and not simply pre-payment for Metallica costs. Council Tuesday released this statement: 13.3 Contractual Matter – Concert Update That Halifax Regional Council approve the settlement […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Media mis-report “showdown” between Richard Butts and Harold MacKay over Metallica show
Under the headline “Concert promoter agrees to pay HRM thousands,” last week, CBC broadly implied that concert promoter Harold MacKay had paid back about $40,000 of the the $359,550 lost in the Common concert fiasco: The city had been trying to recover approximately $359,550 — a portion of a $400,000 advance issued to MacKay’s former […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
City embarrasses itself with Metallica fiasco
In a bizarre and inexplicable move, this past week the city of Halifax attempted to force the promotion company for the July 14 Metallica concert on Citadel Hill to pay the $359,550 bill for the Common concerts fiasco. With the advice and encouragement of Scott Ferguson, president of provincial crown corporation Trade Centre Limited, Halifax […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Parks Canada details charges to Harold MacKay for Metallica show
I just got off the phone with Theresa Bunbury at Parks Canada, who I had called to find out what Harold MacKay of MacKay Entertainment was paying for rental of the Garrison Grounds for the July 14 Metallica show. While Bunbury wouldn’t give me the exact terms of the contract, she did say it was […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Merch rep says Harold MacKay still owes $63,000 for Black Eyed Peas show
On Monday it was announced that Metallica will perform on Citadel Hill on July 14. The promoter is none other than Harold MacKay, whose Power Promotional Events company put on the failed Black Eyed Peas show at the heart of the city’s concert loan scandal. Power Promotional Events has since gone out of business; the […]
Posted inArts + Music
Metallica Confirmed for Citadel Hill July 14
As promised, Cole MacLean of atlanticcanadarocks.com has posted the official announcement of Metallica’s show in Halifax today. The article (citing Harold MacKay for all the info) reports that the concert has been named “Rock the Hill 2012” and it’s happening Thursday July 14. In addition to Metallica, the lineup will feature support from Seether, Coheed and Cambria and Matt Mays. TIckets for Rock the Hill 2011 go on sale on Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 12:00 noon. Tickets will be available at www.rockthehill.ca or they can be ordered by phone at 1-877-569-7767. Tickets can also be purchased at participating
Posted inNews + Opinion
Mystery deepens: Metallica to play Halifax, but Molson isn’t presenter
I just got off the phone with Brian Harriman, a vice president for Molson/Coors’ Atlantic division, and he tells me definitively that Molson is not putting on a Metallica show—or any other show for that matter—in Halifax. “Of course we’d like to sell beer there,” he says, “but we’re not a presenter.” This contradicts The […]
Posted inArts + Music
Metallica is Probably Playing Citadel Hill on July 14
The Chronicle-Herald just posted a story linking back to an update on the Atlantic Canada Rocks website that says Metallica is more or less confirmed to play Citadel Hill on Thursday July 14. Apparently things are being held up by delays in confirming opening acts, although – calloo callay – Three Days Grace has been rumoured as the opener. The post, written by an “unnamed source,” claims the official announcement will be coming down the pipeline later today or tomorrow. However, the Herald spoke to another unnamed source who says the announcement will be coming tomorrow, not today. Considering
Posted inNews + Opinion
Metallica looking to play Citadel Hill July 14
[image-1] This morning, Cole McLean of Atlantic Canada Rocks announced that Metallica will play Citadel Hill July 14. The group has been touring with Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax on a the BIG FOUR tour; there’s no word if the other bands will be playing in Halifax. And in the Saint John Times & Transcript, McLean tells us that: What’s perhaps more interesting is that it sounds like Harold MacKay, whose company Power Promotions went bankrupt after a series of outdoor shows in the city, is said to be the promoter behind the potential Metallica date. I called McLean to see
Posted inArts + Music
Minivan Halen’s last show at the Paragon
Paul HammondText appeal Minivan Halen play their last Halifax show this Friday August 21 (with Slave Class from PEI and Buried Inside from Ottawa, The Paragon, 10:30pm, $10), it’s been a short, but sweet, run for a band who primarily played house shows, all ages shows and the VLT room at Gus’ Pub. “We specially made 150 7″ records for this, so it’s a bit of a special event for us,” says Mark Black (vocals). “They’ll be on sale at this show and once they’re gone, they’re gone. Because we are gone.” In February I asked them a bunch of