While the mystery continues over why Jelly Roll abruptly cancelled his only New Zealand show at the tail end of a multi-stop Australian leg, the disappointment for Kiwi fans is all too familiar.

Despite the wave of artists heading to Aotearoa, many have suddenly cancelled or postponed their performances – often at the last minute – leaving their out-of-town fans scrambling to recover travel and accommodation costs.

The Herald‘s Mitchell Hageman has previously explored what could be behind the veils of “scheduling issues” and “unforeseen circumstances”, speaking with NZ Promoters Association (NZPA) president Layton Lillas about why the red-herring phrases persist.

Each event comes with its own set of logistical challenges, so every cancellation is unique by design. Reasons can vary from poor budgeting of time and money, to lagging ticket sales or simply illness.

Live events typically rely on local promoters who take financial gambles to bring international acts to our shores. The artist must commit, but the promoter handles almost everything else: planning, logistics and financing. It’s a precarious business, but the reward can be immense.

The problem is, once an event is cancelled, there’s rarely a plan B, and fans are frequently left to do their own damage control for lost expenses. Jelly Roll’s last-minute no-show is just the latest in a string of high-profile collapses this year.

Jelly Roll

Jelly Roll was touring Australia before forfeiting on the Auckland show. Photo / Getty

Country rock star Jelly Roll cancelled his Auckland concert last Saturday, only hours before he was due to take the stage at Spark Arena, citing illness.

It was the Tennessee-born artist’s first visit to New Zealand. Fans reported being in disbelief when the news broke while they queued outside the venue.

“Dear Auckland I’ve done everything I can, I just can’t shake it,” he wrote on Instagram.

“I pride myself on showing up no matter what. Just couldn’t do it this time. Please forgive me.”

Live Nation confirmed refunds for all ticketholders.

The last-minute cancellation sparked frustration online, with some fans questioning why it took until the evening of the show for the decision to be made.

Others defended the artist, pointing to his heavy touring schedule across Australia.

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg performs onstage at the BET Awards in 2025. Photo / Getty

California rapper Snoop Dogg planned to take over Manukau’s Due Drop Events Centre on September 20.

The show, dubbed Snoop Dog v DJ Snoopadelic, would have included a DJ set from the hip-hop star himself, with local rappers Savage and Revus as opening acts.

Soon after the concert’s announcement, one of the promoters Pato Alvarez lost his bid for permanent name suppression over sex-related charges he was found guilty of in Rotorua’s High Court in 2023.

4ward Entertainment – another promoter behind the show – revealed the performance had been canned days later “due to circumstances beyond our control”, with refunds already being issued to ticketholders.

“Our goal was to deliver a first-class, New Zealand-first show and we are saddened this is no longer possible,” 4ward wrote on social media.

Drake

Drake performing live in London in July. Photo / Getty

The God’s Plan mega-star originally planned to touch down in Aotearoa for two highly-anticipated Auckland concerts on February 28 and March 1, but fans instead waited months for confirmation he would actually come.

One month out from the original dates, Drake postponed by two weeks over “scheduling conflicts”, leaving fans scrambling to change their itineraries to accommodate.

The nature of those conflicts weren’t confirmed, but the rapper had concurrently added two further shows in Australia that ran into March.

By end of February, it was confirmed all future Anita Max Win Tour shows in Australia and New Zealand were indefinitely “postponed”, with promoters “actively working on rescheduling these dates” with additional shows.

In July, Live Nation finalised their cancellation. Rescheduling was no longer possible “despite extensive efforts to find a solution”, it said.

Live Nation promised Drake remained “committed to returning and performing these shows when his schedule permits”.

Nelly

American rapper Nelly was meant to take the Spark Arena stage on March 21. Photo / Paul Taylor

American rapper Nelly was set to perform one show for his Where The Party At Tour in Auckland on March 21, with hip-hop group St Lunatics and longtime friend Chingy joining the lineup.

While the tour did kick off across the ditch for his four scheduled stops in Australia’s major cities, the opening performance – and New Zealand’s sole show – was abruptly axed one month prior.

No official reason was given by Live Nation, while the hit 2000s artist has kept quiet on his abandonment, and refunds were quickly issued.

Some fans speculated online that it was cancelled over poor ticket sales and a lack of demand.

Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino (aka Donald Glover) at a pōwhiri during his last visit to New Zealand in 2018. Photo / File

Donald Glover, better known by his stage name Childish Gambino, booked a single show for his New Zealand fans on January 28.

It was set to be one of Glover’s last gigs using the moniker, but the five-time Grammy winner made the sobering decision to cancel his New World Tour’s shows Downunder as he recovered from surgery for an unknown ailment.

“Unfortunately, my path to recovery is taking longer than expected. The upcoming concerts in Australia and New Zealand are cancelled,” Glover wrote to fans on social media.

“One of the last things I’d ever want to do is disappoint my fans. I really appreciate the support you have shown and know that I will do what I can to give [you] an exceptional experience when the time is right. Thank you.”

Unlike other concerts, there were signs the tour wasn’t going to materialise, with Glover cancelling the rest of his 2024 show dates in North America and Europe one month prior.

Glover brought his highly-secret and mysterious Pharos festival to Auckland’s Tāpapakanga Regional Park in 2018, which attendees had few details of until they arrived.

Punters described it as “spectacular” and “overwhelming in the best way”, but health and safety concerns were raised by some over the long queues and loud noise.

The light at the end of the tunnel

Promoters say each major event carries its own costly challenges. Photo / Getty

While Thirty Seconds to Mars, Blink-182 and TLC also surprisingly canned their shows in 2024, and Travis Scott frustrated thousands with a last-minute scheduling change to his Eden Park concert, it hasn’t been all doom and gloom in Aotearoa’s entertainment space.

Most artists stick to their schedules, and we’ve been blessed with concerts by the likes of James Blunt, Teddy Swims, Gracie Abrams, Dua Lipa, Charli XCX and Benson Boone this year alone.

Moreover, Metallica takes the stage at Eden Park next week, Ed Sheeran is undergoing a multi-stop tour in January, and Lorde has just added further tickets to her two sold-out shows here at home.

Speaking to the Herald earlier this year, promoters were personally elated with the future of showbiz in New Zealand.

“We get a lot of shows coming here. A lot more than we used to. So, as far as the overall industry is concerned, I think it looks pretty good,” Eccles Entertainment co-founder Brent Eccles said.

At the time, NZPA’s Lillas said audiences remained happy to spend their money on events, so long as the experience was worth the price.

“If things are falling over, it’s very simple that the proposition is not attractive enough for the price that people are expected to pay.

“And that’s for us, as promoters, to find that sweet spot.”

The Government’s $70 million events fund, announced in September, aims to support the events industry and help attract artists to New Zealand.

Hailed as a lifeline that will unlock events previously out of reach, Eccles said it shows the Government understands the importance of the industry – and its various downstream economic effects – “for the psyche of New Zealand”.

Tom Rose is an Auckland-based journalist who covers breaking news, specialising in lifestyle, entertainment and travel. He joined the Herald in 2023.