SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - More than two months have passed since a Hay River-based promoter pulled the plug on a concert by Canadian rock legend Randy Bachman, and ticket holders are still waiting for news on refunds.

Lynn Fowler, manager of the Yellowknife Ravens broomball team, holds up a security shirt they were to wear at a Randy Bachman concert before it was cancelled last July. Ticket holders are still waiting for refunds from concert promoter Garth Mac - NNSL file photo

James Blanchard, who purchased two of the $60 tickets for the July 10 concert at the Multiplex arena, said he contacted a Bachman publicist two weeks ago who seemed surprised the promoter, Garth Mackie, had yet to deliver on refunds.

Mackie informed Yellowknifer via e-mail a couple weeks after the cancellation that he would begin contacting ticket holders. He wrote that he couldn't do anything to "reverse the process of the enormous amount of work that goes into putting on an event such as this" until he could return home from work from one of the territories mines on July 28.

Yet Blanchard said he hadn't heard "anything at all" from the promoter. As for getting his refund: "The more time goes on, the more doubtful it's becoming," he said.

Another ticket holder, Catherine Pellerin, said she received a mass e-mail sent out by Mackie back in July but is still awaiting further word.

"I sent him an e-mail, and he sent one to everybody and said he'll be back on such and such a date but I haven't heard anything else since," said Pellerin.

Part of the proceeds from the concert were supposed to go to the Yellowknife Ravens broomball team in exchange for their help with bar and security services. Lynn Fowler, the team's manager, reported shortly after the concert that only 362 tickets had been sold before it was cancelled. He insisted the team was not responsible for refunds.

The RCMP reported at the time that failure to reimburse ticket holders wasn't a criminal offence, and anyone seeking a legal remedy would have to do so in civil court.

Blanchard said he is pondering that option.

"I'd probably consider that," said Blanchard. "Somebody's got money somewhere."

Mackie did not respond to Yellowknifer's e-mail request for an interview by press time.