Donovan cancels Tel Aviv concert in possible boycott
Israeli promoter can’t confirm BDS as cause of Scottish folkster’s volte face, but writes on Facebook that it seems likely
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Scottish singer Donovan canceled his January 27 concert in Tel Aviv, citing uncompleted contract negotiations.
According to local concert promoter Patrick Losinsky of ProgStage, Donovan’s announcement came as a surprise, given that all the contract details had been carried out.
The musician was supposed to arrive this week with his grandson for Wednesday’s show, 34 years after his last appearance in Israel.
Losinsky announced Monday on the ProgStage Facebook page that it has been a difficult two weeks, given that tickets had already been sold for the Donovan concert, and the musician’s handlers weren’t offering a clear reason for the cancellation.
DONOVAN IS DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO ISRAEL TO PLAYDonovan will not be performing in Tel Aviv March 27.The contract arrangements for a Donovan concert have not been completed.AngeliqueForDonovan
Posted by Donovan on Monday, January 25, 2016
Losinsky didn’t mention the BDS movement as the cause of the canceled concert, but said that it was clear that financial issues weren’t the reason.
“We’re talking about foreign interests that caused artists to cancel their appearances here,” he wrote. “I’m not letting it defeat me. I’m a musician myself, and I never got into the field to get rich — I’m doing this because I love it, and love the music I bring to Israel.”
On January 20, Losinsky wrote on the ProgStage Facebook page that Donovan — a 60’s folk star with songs such as Catch the Wind, Sunshine Superman, and Mellow Yellow — had been one of his favorite artists to work with, a down-to-earth, modest musician with few demands.
“Really, he’s the same flower boy he was in the sixties who somehow managed to keep his innocence,” he wrote.
