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Little Mix: Last minute cancellation of Belfast gigs | Little Mix: Last minute cancellation of Belfast gigs |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The band Little Mix have been forced to cancel their Belfast gigs after singer Jesy Nelson became unwell. | The band Little Mix have been forced to cancel their Belfast gigs after singer Jesy Nelson became unwell. |
The girl band was due to play a matinee and evening show at the SSE Arena on Thursday. | The girl band was due to play a matinee and evening show at the SSE Arena on Thursday. |
The cancellation was announced just minutes after the doors opened for the afternoon performance. | The cancellation was announced just minutes after the doors opened for the afternoon performance. |
Fans were later informed by text message that the show would not be going ahead as scheduled. | Fans were later informed by text message that the show would not be going ahead as scheduled. |
Michael Green was in Belfast for the concert with his daughters, aged five and six. | Michael Green was in Belfast for the concert with his daughters, aged five and six. |
He said the family had been among fans who were disappointed when One Direction re-scheduled their Belfast concert last October. | He said the family had been among fans who were disappointed when One Direction re-scheduled their Belfast concert last October. |
Mr Green told the BBC he felt "physically gutted and a little bit sick" when he was told the kids were to be let down again. | Mr Green told the BBC he felt "physically gutted and a little bit sick" when he was told the kids were to be let down again. |
"I thought this couldn't happen again, what are the chances?" | "I thought this couldn't happen again, what are the chances?" |
Michael had surprised his daughters with the tickets on Christmas morning and travelled from Coleraine to see the girl band. | Michael had surprised his daughters with the tickets on Christmas morning and travelled from Coleraine to see the girl band. |
He said he was worried the band would re-schedule for an afternoon when the children were back at school. | He said he was worried the band would re-schedule for an afternoon when the children were back at school. |
"I'm really, really annoyed. Once again they've waited until we got here to tell us it was cancelled." | "I'm really, really annoyed. Once again they've waited until we got here to tell us it was cancelled." |
Mother Geraldine McLaughlin had brought her stepdaughter, Stacey, to the concert for her birthday. | Mother Geraldine McLaughlin had brought her stepdaughter, Stacey, to the concert for her birthday. |
She said the 16-year-old's birthday had been ruined by the news. | She said the 16-year-old's birthday had been ruined by the news. |
"We came down to Belfast and booked into the Ramada to make a day of it," she said. | "We came down to Belfast and booked into the Ramada to make a day of it," she said. |
"Stacey was so excited about this, I don't know what we'll do for the rest of the day. | "Stacey was so excited about this, I don't know what we'll do for the rest of the day. |
"We're just going to go back to the hotel now to get away from this chaos." | "We're just going to go back to the hotel now to get away from this chaos." |
Thousands of young people were gathered at the SSE Arena at lunchtime on Thursday when the announcement was made via speakerphone. | Thousands of young people were gathered at the SSE Arena at lunchtime on Thursday when the announcement was made via speakerphone. |
Ms McLaughlin said many of them were in tears. | Ms McLaughlin said many of them were in tears. |
"It's not been handled very well," she said. "There's absolute bedlam down here now. | "It's not been handled very well," she said. "There's absolute bedlam down here now. |
"Surely they could have informed us before we all landed at the place? This was minutes before the show was due to begin." | "Surely they could have informed us before we all landed at the place? This was minutes before the show was due to begin." |
A statement from gig promoter Aikens said: "We regret to announce that both Little Mix shows at the SSE Arena will not take place today due to Jesy being unwell and not able to perform. | A statement from gig promoter Aikens said: "We regret to announce that both Little Mix shows at the SSE Arena will not take place today due to Jesy being unwell and not able to perform. |
"Please hold on to your tickets - we hope to be able to make a further announcement on possible rescheduling later today." | "Please hold on to your tickets - we hope to be able to make a further announcement on possible rescheduling later today." |
Ms McLaughlin pointed out that if the concert is rescheduled for next week, children will be back at school. | Ms McLaughlin pointed out that if the concert is rescheduled for next week, children will be back at school. |
"You can't just take a day off school and time off work for a concert," she said. | "You can't just take a day off school and time off work for a concert," she said. |
Mother Sarah-Louise Murray had tickets for her and her three-year-old daughter, Scarlett, to see the band on Thursday afternoon. | |
She said Scarlett had been in tears when she was told the concert was not going ahead. | |
"We had special matching T-shirts made for the day and she was so looking forward to it. | |
"We arrived after 13:00 when the doors were due to open because I wanted to avoid the crowds, but when we got to the arena the queues of people were still waiting outside. | |
"When we heard from others that it was cancelled I put Scarlett back in the pram and told her we had to go home and come back another day." | |
It is the second major cancellation to disappoint young music fans in the city in recent times. | It is the second major cancellation to disappoint young music fans in the city in recent times. |
Last October, One Direction called off a gig at the SSE at late notice after singer Liam Payne became ill. | Last October, One Direction called off a gig at the SSE at late notice after singer Liam Payne became ill. |