“Just couldn’t do it this time. Please forgive me.”
Jelly Roll has cancelled his show in Auckland this evening.
Saturday’s concert was going to be the first time he had performed in New Zealand and was the only stop of his Down Under Tour in Aotearoa.
Promoter Live Nation confirmed the cancellation.
“We regret to announce the Jelly Roll Down Under 2025 Tour tonight at The Outer Fields, Western Springs in Auckland will no longer go ahead due to illness,” the company said.
“All ticket holders will receive an automatic full refund.
“For any further refund inquiries please contact your point of purchase.”
Lisa McManaway had travelled to Auckland from Blenheim to watch the US artist with her son.
“We bought VIP backstage and we were standing at the backstage waiting to go through,” she said. “And my son saw it on his Instagram before the workers even knew anything about it.
“So, then the poor guy that’s been on the whole Jelly Roll tour with him had to break it to the 29 people that had come backstage VIP.”
McManaway estimated she had spent more than $4000 on the entire trip and has been left feeling emotional about the last-minute decision.
Lisa McManaway flew from Blenheim to Auckland to see Jelly Roll with her son and estimated the entire trip cost her more than $4000. Photo / Lisa McManaway
“I‘ve had tears, I was so excited for this and I feel for everybody that’s gone because there’s so much heart that goes into his music that reaches so many people on a different level.”
She said she probably wouldn’t buy tickets to see Jelly Roll again after this incident.
Jan Goodwin also planned to attend the concert, but told Newstalk ZB there was a feeling among those outside the venue something was wrong.
“There was a real vibe that something was up,” Goodwin said, “and I was just kind of standing there for a little while.
“And I could hear everybody being real upset, and next thing I hear, it’s cancelled. And I was like, wait, what?”
Despite travelling from Hawke’s Bay and taking time off work, Goodwin did sympathise with the artist.
“They said that that they are going to do full refunds, which I think is pretty awesome, really.
“He’s sick and he can’t help that, so I’m not too upset really. These things happen and he’s only human.”
Taxi service Corporate Cabs said it was starting to take concert-goers back to their hotels across Auckland, with some customers in shock and disbelief at the decision.
Grammy-nominated country artist Shaboozey, who was supporting Jelly Roll on his tour, had earlier cancelled an interview with radio station ZM.