The Barney Bentall blues and jazz concert planned for 100 Mile House on March 17 has been cancelled.
Low-ticket sales leading up to the last two weeks before the event prompted calling off the concert, says organizer Gail Thorne of Slapback Music Production.
She adds it would have been a rare treat for such a big-name musician to perform in the community.
The Juno-award winning Bentall was to appear with Eric Reed on banjo, mandolin and dobro on the stage at the South Cariboo Theatre.
"It is a shame that it did not go through because it was a perfect venue."
Thorne says it would have been an excellent opportunity to show off the theatre as a new venue for concert productions.
South Cariboo Theatre recently renovated and enlarged its stage in time for the concert, but she adds it planned to do that anyway, and she "definitely" looks forward to holding future Slapback Music Production concerts there.
Thorne says she also hopes to get Barney Bentall to perform here later, she explains.
"The agent and I talked about doing it again, and it might not be for another year, but I'm going to do it.
"I will probably try to get some financial business backing to help me out because I was doing it entirely on my own."
The concert was intended to be the first in the 2012 Blues Jazz Concert Series at the theatre, complete with bar service.
Thorne says she is currently assessing her finances to see where Slapback Productions might go forward with future productions.
The concert was advertised in print and radio for eight weeks in 100 Mile and Williams Lake, Thorne notes, as well as having posters and a website to promote the concert.
"People need to realize when you are bringing in a name like Barney Bentall, they have to buy their tickets before the last two weeks."
After only 46 out of 270 tickets available were sold by March 5, Thorne says she met with the agent and decided to pull the plug due to a lack of production finances.
Those who did buy tickets can call Thorne at 250-791-5614 to arrange a time and place to pick up their refund for the $40 tickets.