God Has Nothing To Do With It

A concert promoter accused of skipping out on payments to merchants and bands involved in a Jan. 1 gospel music concert in Mount Airy, N.C., reportedly tried to organize shows in a nearby city.

Television station WXII Channel 12 reported Feb. 18 that a poster showed Wade Weaver of Heaven Bound Talent Agency was promoting a March 14 concert in Lexington with five gospel groups scheduled to appear. When WXII 12 contacted three of the groups in the ad, each reportedly said it wouldn’t be performing.

Local businessman Steve Barrow told the station he’d given Weaver $100 in sponsorship money for the Lexington show but became suspicious after doing an Internet search and finding the report on the Mount Airy festival.

Lexington Civic Center officials said they’d spoken to Weaver on the phone but hadn’t received any money to book the date, according to WXII 12.

Weaver is accused of soliciting thousands of dollars from 17 businesses to stage the Jan. 1 “Gospel Extravaganza” in Mount Airy featuring The Kingsmen Quartet, The Journeyman, Valor 3 and New Jerusalem at Applewood Music Park in Cana, Va.

Those involved said Weaver appeared professional and went as far as ordering radio ads for the event.

However, the concert ended with all three bands, a video taping company, a radio station, newspaper and two hotels left holding the bag for services Weaver allegedly skipped out on paying for.