Ray LaMontagne’s performance scheduled for this Thursday, September 22nd at Bass Concert Hall has been cancelled due to concerns over the state of Texas’ recently enacted campus carry law, which allows licensed permit holders to bring concealed handguns into many performance venues on public university campuses, including the Performing Arts Center at The University of Texas at Austin.
Patrons who purchased tickets using a credit card, either online, by phone, or in person, will be automatically refunded beginning Wednesday, Sept. 21. Patrons who purchased with cash or check, please contact the Texas Performing Arts ticket office at (512) 471-1444. Texas Box Office requests that all tickets be shredded or thrown away.
excerpt from the Texas Tribune:
In a Facebook post on Tuesday afternoon, American singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne said he was canceling a scheduled show at the University of Texas at Austin’s Bass Concert Hall because of concerns with Texas’ new campus carry law.
LaMontagne, who was scheduled to perform Thursday at 7 p.m., said in his Facebook post that he considers himself a “very open minded human being,” but he cannot support the campus carry “ideology.” UT-Austin confirmed that he is the first performer to cancel at the school over the law.
“There are a lot of things this country needs more of, but guns aren’t one of them,” LaMontagne said. “On behalf of myself and the band, and everyone involved in the tour, I want to express our collective disappointment in the decision to allow guns on campus, and within the campus venue.”
According to Austin360, this is the second time LaMontagne has canceled a performance in Austin. Kathy Panoff, Texas Performing Arts director and an associate dean in the College of Fine Arts, referred questions to UT-Austin communications office.
In a statement, UT-Austin spokesman J.B. Bird expressed regret over LaMontagne canceling his performance but respects his right to do so. He pointed out that state law allows “licensed permit holders to bring concealed handguns into many performance venues on public university campuses, including the Performing Arts Center” at UT-Austin.
“I would have never applied for another job if not for campus carry,” Steiner told the Tribune then. “I felt that I was going to be responsible for managing a law I didn’t believe in.”
[full story at Texas Tribune]
