Theater to Refund Taj Mahal Tickets

Managers of the Ventura Theater said Friday they will give a refund or credit to patrons who had tickets for the New Year’s Eve concert at which Taj Mahal failed to appear.

The popular folk and blues musician was booked to sing with his Phantom Blues Band. But shortly before Taj Mahal was scheduled to go on stage, the theater’s managers received a call saying he was sick.

“The hotels by the beach are full of mold, and apparently that set off his asthma,” said Ardas Khalsa, one of the theater’s four managers.

After waiting hours to see him, concert-goers were told at about 11:30 p.m. that the featured musician would not play. Dozens of disgruntled viewers lined up to get credit/refund vouchers and then head elsewhere to usher in the new year. Others stayed to hear the band play without Taj Mahal.

“A bunch of people left,” said concert-goer Greta Liedke. “You could feel that everyone was really disappointed. The good thing about it is, his band was really good.”

The timing of the asthma attack could not have been worse for the theater’s managers. Struggling to bolster the venue’s reputation after mismanagement by former leaseholders, the management considered the Taj Mahal concert one of the best shows it had booked so far.

The band’s drummer, Tom Braunagel, acknowledged that the cancellation was bad timing for the theater and also a letdown for New Year’s Eve revelers. But he said Taj Mahal will make every effort to make it up.

“It’s really not like Taj to do anything like this,” Braunagel said. “He’s like an oak tree. He’s very strong and very dedicated to commitment to the audience.”

Khalsa said the Ventura Theater is working on re-booking Taj Mahal.

Those who attended the concert should bring their vouchers to the Ventura Theater at 26 S. Chestnut St. for a cash refund or credit between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. beginning Tuesday.