Provincial Concert Clash

A Canadian promoter is taking the government of Prince Edward Island to task for failing to support his efforts to make the province more concert friendly.

David Carver promoted two shows on the island in 2006 and 2007 – Black Eyed Peas and Aerosmith, respectively.

During a recent address to students at a local university, Carver said he’s taken all the risk on shows that proved successful in the past, but still sees a lack of cooperation from the provincial Department of Tourism in approving his events, the Guardian reported.

“I’ll be back with a proposal for this summer but I’m confident I won’t get the provincial government’s support,” Carver said. “They should be coming to me and saying, ‘David, you’re the guy who delivered twice. What can we do to make this a smooth process for you?’”

However, Department of Tourism minister Valerie Docherty told the paper the province had also assumed risk for the shows.

“We haven’t heard from him in months so to say we’re standing in the way, I’m not sure what I’m standing in the way of at this point in time,” Docherty said. “The unfortunate thing is Mr. Carver has gone to the media first as opposed to my department.

“The amusing thing is we gave him almost, if not more than, $350,000 for Aerosmith. Yes, he took risk but we had some input in it as well. It’s not like he put the concert 100 percent on his back. It will be interesting to see if his proposal [for next summer] isn’t asking for any government money.”

The province contracted with another promoter to produce a concert on P.E.I. in September, the island’s shoulder season, featuring Alanis Morissette, Metric, Joel Plaskett Emergency, Good Charlotte and Haywire that was largely deemed a failure.

The show was expected to draw 10,000, according to CBC News, but brought in roughly 3,000 concertgoers.

Carver claimed he’d attempted to bring a Van Halen in August to the island, but the province turned down the offer in favor of the other show, CBC reported.