Features
Swift Sued In Hoedown Slowdown
A company involved in a canceled Ottawa, Ontario, country music festival is suing
The Capital Hoedown was to take place Aug. 10-12, but promoter Denis Benoit canceled the event in July, citing “unforeseen operating obstacles, several media reports containing untrue, defamatory and injurious statements … and the City’s denial for a new event permit,” according to a Facebook post.
Tickets had been processed through a company called Evo Merchant Services, which refunded potential festivalgoers. Now, Evo is suing
However, the money paid to Swift – and the amount varies – appears to be part of a boilerplate advance agreement that would be nonrefundable if the promoter is the one to cancel the performance. Benoit paid a nonrefundable deposit of $250,000 in October and a remaining $2.2 million in December, according to the Citizen.
One report by the Citizen claims TMG is being sued by Front Gate Ticketing – which would make the lawsuit incestuous considering Front Gate and TMG are both AEG subsidiaries (Front Gate is co-owned by
The Messina Group had not seen the lawsuit at press time and could not comment.