Virgin Mobile FreeFest: We have no Plan B yet if T.I. bails
T.I.'s drug bust put in question his touring plans for the Fall, including a Sept. 25 stop at Merriweather Post Pavilion for Virgin Mobile FreeFest. Already, three shows have been canceled as he sorts through his legal problems.
But festival organizers say he will not be replaced if he bails because there's no time to find a back-up.
The Atlanta rapper was arrested Sept. 1 in Los Angeles for ecstasy possession, among other charges. He's due to appear soon before an Atlanta judge who'll decide if he violated his parole.
In light of his legal woes, he's canceled three shows already - Penn State, Jackson State University, and West Virginia University, which was scheduled a day after Virgin FreeFest.
Seth Hurwitz, chairman of promoter I.M.P., says he's waiting to hear "official word" from the label about the scheduled appearance. But as of now, T.I.'s still on the bill.
"I don't know that we can plan until Thursday," he said.
If the Atlanta judge revokes the rapper's parole, and he cancels the festival appearance, the show will go on anyway.
"There's certainly enough entertainment going on," Hurwitz said. He's considered replacement acts, but hasn't found the right one.
"We're not going to find another act just like that," he said.
One possibility would be to extend other bands' set times, spokeswoman Audrey Fix Schaefer added. Set times haven't been locked in because organizers have yet to formalize a schedule of the day's events, five days before the festival.
Virgin Mobile FreeFest is Saturday 25 at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Follow up-to-date coverage at our FreeFest page and Midnight Sun.
Photo: T.I. official Facebook
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
Have you heard anything yet about the schedule for the day? What bands are playing when?
Posted by: sara | September 20, 2010 4:03 PM
1.) What an idiot (TI).
2.) Who cares?
3.) Why would they cancel the festival? That's just ridiculous considering there will likely be two other bands playing at the other stages DURING HIS SLOT alone.
Posted by: grover | September 20, 2010 9:31 PM
Don't really know anything about this guy but it's not like music stars and partying are a new combo. Either way I'm going because it's free and should be a fun day outside. There are a few good and a few decent bands playing and the price means even if all I did was hang out and eat and drink it won't cost any more than a night out at the bars instead.
Posted by: duder | September 21, 2010 12:21 AM
@sara: they haven't released a schedule of events yet.
Posted by: Maza | September 21, 2010 1:44 AM
Quality and cheap to bought the handbag? Please come here
http://www.coach188.com
Posted by: nana | September 21, 2010 10:15 AM
I believe I could use a Coach handbag cheap....if only there was a website...
Posted by: Rock Strongo | September 21, 2010 1:09 PM
Why did you capitalize 'Plan B' in the headline? This was unnecessary and confusing. You had me thinking that they were going to replace T.I. with the British rapper/singer Plan B.
Posted by: kevi | September 21, 2010 1:14 PM