An A-Maze-ing Turnaround

Concertgoers, venue execs and a promoter got a big surprise in Arkansas Oct. 24 when they expected one artist to do a concert and another one showed up instead.

Fans who went to the Pine Bluff Convention Center to see Maze featuring Frankie Beverly got a different headliner in Johnny Gill.

The switch was reportedly decided just before the concert’s 7 p.m. start, which led to about 200 upset Maze fans asking for refunds, according to Pine Bluff’s The Commercial.

Venue director Bob Purvis told the paper he didn’t know about the switch until just before the show. “Nobody was screaming. Nobody was yelling. They were just unhappy,” Purvis said. “In the end, the majority decided ‘Oh, what the heck,’ and went to the show.”

Promoter Cedric Sterrett told the Commercial he didn’t know about the substitution until late that day and couldn’t comment on the situation until he talked with his lawyers.