SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - After spending seven weeks in Edmonton receiving radiation therapy, Tracy Carter was looking forward to seeing Randy Bachman in concert after her husband John bought tickets as a surprise.

John and Tracy Carter were looking forward to a night out before the Randy Bachman concert was cancelled last week. They're trying to get their money back for the tickets but haven't had any luck. - Charlotte Hilling/NNSL photo

"We were really looking forward to a night out and some stress relief," said Tracy. "The whole thing doesn't seem terribly fair."

The concert - scheduled for last Friday - was cancelled by Hay River promoter Garth Mackie due to exceptionally low ticket sales.

Only 362 tickets were sold, according to Lynn Fowler, manager of the Yellowknife Ravens broomball team.

Yellowknifer's attempts to contact Mackie have been unsuccessful. Last Wednesday the promoter sent an e-mail to Val Pond of the Yellowknife Ravens, which was helping to organize the concert, advising all ticket enquiries to be sent to the e-mail address gmackie@live.com. The Carters have e-mailed Mackie twice, with no reply.

"We're very disappointed, as much with the concert not being on, but also not getting our money back," said Tracy.

Ticket holder Catherine Pellerin said she is not expecting cash back for her $60 ticket.

"It's not going well. I'm not convinced we're getting a refund," said Pellerin.

Pellerin said she was extremely surprised to hear about the cancellation and initially thought it was a joke, but she does have a theory for the low ticket sales.

"We've got Folk on the Rocks coming up (this) week and the ticket prices are a bit higher this year," she said. "The day it was cancelled I heard one lady say to the other that tons of people wanted to go, they just hadn't got their tickets yet. People in Yellowknife seem to wait 'till the last minute."

Fowler said he and the team were asked to organize the event at the Multiplex, but have no financial obligations to ticket holders.

"Its role was solely to run the bar and provide security for the event," Fowler stated in a letter to Yellowknifer.

"We had 50 volunteers in place to assist us. The concert was to act as a fundraiser for our team who would receive a portion of the proceeds towards representing the NWT at the Nationals and Worlds."

Fowler said he has been taking several calls from ticket holders after their attempts to contact Mackie proved unsuccessful.

"I've been fielding calls from ticket holders, which I don't mind - you have to be transparent. Everyone's been very nice - no one's been irate," he said.

Asked about the likelihood of refunds, Fowler said he understands the silence from Mackie.

"Garth's a good friend and he's an honest guy, but he's having a problem himself. He may not have the money because he probably had to pay Randy Bachman out of his own pocket," he said.

RCMP Const. Kathy Law said it would be a civil court and not a criminal issue if ticket holders don't get their money back.

Media contact person for E1 Music Canada, Eric Alper, said no dates were scheduled for a make-up concert. Alper stated in an e-mail to Yellowknifer, "I don't have anything on the tour schedule for a possible date to the city, but I know he'd like to play there!"

- with files from Cara Loverock