Hedley concert in Brandon ‘still a go’

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This article was published 15/02/2018 (2987 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Junos have dropped Canadian pop-rock band Hedley from the televised awards bash as the rockers face allegations of sexual misconduct that they call “unsubstantiated.”

And on the heels of that announcement, Hedley has banned all media from attending their show in Brandon, according to a spokeswoman with the Keystone Centre.

The decision by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences falls in the midst of Hedley’s ongoing cross-country Cageless tour. Performances were scheduled for fans in Moose Jaw, Sask., tonight, and in Brandon at the Keystone Centre on Friday evening.

Juno organizers say the joint decision to drop Hedley from the Juno performance was made “after careful consideration of the situation” — and was announced only a few minutes after band members issued a statement addressing claims of impropriety involving young fans.

“We realize the life of a touring band is an unconventional one,” reads the statement, which was issued mid-afternoon Wednesday.

“While we are all now either married or have entered into committed, long-term relationships, there was a time, in the past, when we engaged in a lifestyle that incorporated certain rock ‘n’ roll cliches. However, there was always a line that we would never cross.”

The statement followed a flurry of claims on Twitter from anonymous users who alleged inappropriate encounters with the band. Some social media users called on the Juno Awards to drop Hedley as a performer at the upcoming show.

The pop-rockers — fronted by Jacob Hoggard and including Dave Rosin, Tommy Mac and Jay Benison — are up for three Junos this year including fan choice, group of the year and pop album of the year.

The band said they “respect and applaud the #MeToo movement” and say it is especially important within the music industry, “which does not exactly have an enviable history of treating women with the respect they deserve.”

“We appreciate the bravery of those who have come forward with their own stories, and we realize that all of us, as individuals and as a society, can and must do better when it comes to this issue,” says the statement.

“However, if we are to have a meaningful, open and honest discussion, we all have to accept and respect that there are at least two sides to every story. The recent allegations against us posted on social media are simply unsubstantiated and have not been validated. We would hope that people will bear-in-mind the context in which these unsupported accusations have been made before passing judgment on us as individuals or as a band.”

The group is currently on tour and was set to perform in Medicine Hat, Alta., on Wednesday evening, and then move on to Moose Jaw, Sask., today and Brandon on Friday.

The Brandon Sun contacted Marketing & Sponsorship manager for the Brandon Keystone Centre, Krista Kowaluk, who stated late Wednesday afternoon that Hedley’s concert in Brandon was going forward as planned — but media were no longer allowed at the concert.

“We are still a go, as of right now,” Kowaluk stated. “However, there has been one change. We will not be having photographers at the show now.”

When asked if that included reporters, Kowaluk confirmed that no media would be allowed in the venue.

The Brandon Sun also reached out to the Feldman Agency in Toronto — which represents Hedley — on Wednesday afternoon to confirm whether the band’s Friday night performance in Brandon was going ahead as scheduled. As of press time, the agency had not issued any statement or returned phone calls.

» The Canadian Press, with files from The Brandon Sun