With sympathy and no intended sleight to the promoters of the LAI Nottingham event, the unfortunate cancellation brought back memories of somewhat less reputable promoters who inhabited the scene many moons ago.
At Morecambe Pier circa 69 / 70 there were regular headline soul acts advertised, The Tops, Elgins, Isleys, Gladys Knight etc etc
Anticipation would rise on the night as the hours ticked by and Needle in a Haystack played for the 3rd time, Smiffy would probably head butt a bouncer or 3 coz he was bored, Ducky would pass the time by hurling fire extinguishers at random punters from the balcony above, Acky would always take Eunice Gristlebotham behind Bob's bargain bait stall for a knee trembler, romantic bugger was Acky. Kev B would have a pint of mild too many and do a Geronimo off the side of the pier into the tide.
Then eventually, the lights would dim, Ladeez and Genlmen, Boys and Girls, we have an announcement to make, unfortunately the ............(insert 4 Tops, Isley Brothers, Jimmy Ruffin, Elgins) coach has broken down in (Barnsley, Frankfurt, Barnoldswick, randomly insert, try not to use same on successive week ends) but at extremely short notice we have managed to get you, the one and only, the fantastic, the legendary...............Rupert Roughstick and the Ragamuffins cue riot . Nothing unusual in a riot at the Pier, just not that early.
Acky and Eunice would usually come back in an hour or so later later to a scene of total carnage and we'd tell them the 4 Tops were awesome. Kev B would be found washed up on the beach with a silly grin on his face.
Bloody unreliable were those coaches back in the day
When Chairmen of The Board did actually make it to the pier, I seem to recall it being "alleged" that the promoter then did a disappearing act with their loot.
Happy days - Taff