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Bullshit In The Convent
British promoter Matt Roberts unceremoniously booted Finley Quaye offstage and accused the Scottish reggae star of “polluting my venue with bullshit.”
Quaye, a grandson of vaudeville pianist Caleb Quay and a winner of both a BRIT and MOBO award, reportedly performed a slow, vocal-less blues jam that was said to leave the audience struggling to stay awake. Roberts then walked onstage at the
“I am so sorry guys, I have worked in the industry 28 years, I have a reputation,” Roberts explained. “You guys, go home,” he told Quaye’s band. “We will refund the tickets, and I can only say that I am so sorry because the music industry and live music is beautiful.
“I am sorry, I will not sit here and pollute my venue with bullshit, and I can only apologise for you who were getting some of it because there is some magic there.
“All I can say is this is my house and I have acted how I feel is appropriate.”
Roberts told the audience that all tickets would be refunded and invited them to discuss the evening’s events downstairs at the bar. Apparently this wasn’t the start of the trouble.
Roberts also revealed that Quaye and his band failed to attend soundcheck earlier in the day.
Roberts since posted on Facebook: “It’s not a personal attack on the musician whom I’ve always held in high regard, and whose current lack of management of his talent I find incredibly frustrating. It’s more that my passion for live music, all that live music engenders, creates and inspires is so strong.”
Quaye’s hard times include admitting to possessing cannabis and kicking a woman in the chest during a row with his ex-girlfriend in 2003. Earlier this year fans demanded refunds following a performance at the Bodega in Nottingham, where the artists was two hours late for his set during which he apparently “simply mumbled into the microphone.”