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The concert industry in Ottawa continues to regain strength with recently announced dates of a number of great artists – Avril Lavigne, Chris Stapleton, Dream Theater and Chris de Burgh among them – showing that promoters are unsure of the recent emergence of the COVID-19 Omicron variant .
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“It’s not a problem at all at the moment,” said boutique promoter Dennis Ruffo, a four-decade veteran of the Ottawa scene who still books a handful of shows each year. His 2022 calendar includes performances by jazz great Pat Metheny, American rockers Dream Theater and guitarist Jesse Cook.
“I’m obviously aware of this new variant, but in the end we can only respond to what Health Canada or Ottawa Public Health tells us,” Ruffo said. “What else can I do?”
Ruffo was the promoter behind the recent Alan Doyle concert at the National Arts Center, a show that was moved several times and finally took place on November 16, becoming the first full-capacity performance in the NAC’s largest venue, Southam Hall. It attracted around 1,800 fans and, like all NAC shows, followed a whole cohort of COVID-19 protocols, including vaccine control, mask requirements, and increased disinfection of high-touch areas.
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Despite the changing dates, the Doyle show ended up selling more tickets than it did when it was originally booked, Ruffo said, a clear indicator of the pent-up demand for entertainment in the city.
“A lot of people are itching to get out and go to concerts,” he said, noting that the Metheny show on January 31 at the Algonquin Commons Theater is already almost sold out.
Of the upcoming shows he has booked, Dream Theater tickets go on sale on Friday, with the band returning to NAC’s Southam Hall on February 17, while Jesse Cook visits the same venue on May 15. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.ca.
In other Ottawa concert news, Napanee-raised star Avril Lavigne embarks on her first major tour of Canada in more than 10 years this spring. Her Bite Me Canada outing, named after her latest single, stops at TD Place arena on May 9th. Tickets are on sale Friday at tdplace.ca.
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On Friday, there are also tickets on sale on April 29 for the Canadian Tire Center by American country rocker Chris Stapleton, with singer-songwriter Elle King opening, and a visit on February 11. perennial favorites Blue Rodeo. The Ottawa Senators’ home also welcomes heavy metal legend Iron Maiden on October 15, part of the Legacy of the Beast world tour (tickets go on sale December 10). Go to canadiantirecentre.com or ticketmaster.ca to make your purchase.
Renowned British-Irish singer-songwriter Chris de Burgh is also planning a tour of Canada next year, with an Ottawa date set for April 20 at the TD Place arena. The Lady in Red singer is on his way to promote his latest album, The Legend of Robin Hood. Tickets go on sale December 10 at tdplace.ca.
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Another concern for presenters, of course, is the possibility that Omicron may affect consumer confidence, discourage people from buying tickets or get them to seek refunds. If shows are aggravated by additional lockdowns or travel restrictions for international artists, Ruffo assures us that refunds will be automatically available. “If a show gets canceled or postponed, people have the option to get their money back on purchases within a time frame,” he said.
At NAC, it sounds like a small number of ticket buyers – fewer than half a dozen – have reconsidered their ticket purchases due to Omicron and have decided not to attend shows at this time. Fortunately, t NAC has one of the most flexible refund policies in the sector, allowing people to change their minds about NAC-presented shows and exchange or refund their ticket purchases, right up to the time of the show, at no charge.
Shows presented at NAC by external promoters, such as Ruffo or Broadway Across Canada, would follow their own refund and exchange policies.
lsaxberg@postmedia.com
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