Hedley Now A Band On The Run

By David Farrell

Defamed by tornado-strength, mostly anonymous allegations and innuendo of sexual impropriety on social media this week, Hedley’s band camp is fast falling apart in the early stage of a national arena tour that was expected to be a sinfully profitable affair.

In the past 18 hours, the band’s management, touring agency and opening act have thrown up their hands and abandoned their ship, leaving them to face a headwind that shows no sign of let-up.

On Friday, the band’s manager, Watchdog Management, and the Feldman Agency issued a statement saying given the multiple allegations against Hedley, they will be terminating their business relationships with the band “effective immediately.”

Neon Dreams and Shawn Hook had been travelling with Hedley on its Live Nation-promoted Cageless tour, but dropped out by the weekend, saying it can no longer in good conscience continue the tour.

In a statement, Neon Dreams said: 

“We understand this choice could negatively impact our band professionally but, in the end, we have to do what we feel is morally right. We would like to thank all the amazing fans that have made the first 8 shows on the tour the best experience of our lives. We are truly sorry to disappoint anybody that has purchased a ticket to see us perform and we hope to make it up to you in the future.”

Another blow to the pocketbook includes a growing bandwidth of radio networks, including Bell Media, CBC and Corus Entertainment, suspending play of the band's catalogue of pop hits until some clarity is brought to the ill-defined allegations.

It must be stressed that all allegations of impropriety are just that at this stage and no charges against the group or any of its members have been put forward.

And here is the full Cageless tour itinerary

Monday, February 05 – Abbotsford, BC – Abbotsford Centre

Tuesday, February 06 – Victoria, BC – Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre

Thursday, February 08 – Prince George, BC – CN Centre

Friday, February 09 – Grande Prairie, AB – Revolution Place

Saturday, February 10 – Red Deer, AB – ENMAX Centrium

Monday, February 12 – Calgary, AB – Stampede Corral

Wednesday, February 14 – Medicine Hat, AB – Canalta Centre

Thursday, February 15 – Moose Jaw, SK – Mosaic Place

Friday, February 16 – Brandon, MB – Westman Place

Monday, February 19 – Barrie, ON – Barrie Molson Centre

Tuesday, February 20 – Ottawa, ON – The Arena at TD Place

Wednesday, February 21 – Montreal (Laval), QC – Place Bell

Friday, February 23 – Halifax, NS – Halifax Scotiabank Centre

Saturday, February 24 – Summerside, PEI – Credit Union Place

Monday, February 26 – Quebec City, QC – Centre Videotron

Tuesday, February 27 – Kingston, ON – Rogers K-Rock Centre

Thursday, March 01 – Brampton, ON – Powerade Centre

Friday, March 02 – Peterborough, ON – Peterborough Memorial Centre

Saturday, March 03 – Mississauga, ON – Hershey Centre

Tuesday, March 06 – Hamilton, ON – FirstOntario Centre

Wednesday, March 07 – St. Catharines, ON – Meridian Centre

Friday, March 09 – Oshawa, ON – Tribute Communities Centre

Saturday, March 10 – Kitchener, ON – The Aud (Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex)

Sunday, March 11 – Windsor, ON – The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor

Tuesday, March 13 – Owen Sound, ON – Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre

Wednesday, March 14 – Sudbury, ON – Sudbury Arena

Friday, March 16 – Thunder Bay, ON – Fort William Gardens

Saturday, March 17 – Winnipeg, MB – Bell MTS Place

Monday, March 19 – Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre

Tuesday, March 20 – Cold Lake, AB – Imperial Oil Place

Thursday, March 22 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place

Friday, March 23 – Kelowna, BC – Prospera Place