Glitches, delays cast shadow over Joe Thomas, Anthony Hamilton, Women's Day concert

News24

2 days ago

A highly anticipated Women's Day concert, headlined by Joe Thomas and Anthony Hamilton, hit the wrong note due to sound glitches and lengthy delays.
Thomas made up for his glitch-filled performance while attendees began to leave amid Hamilton's unexpected stage exit.
Meanwhile, the event's organisers and technical teams have acknowledged the sound issues, despite failing to communicate consistently with the audience.
After hours of eager anticipation for R&B legends Joe Thomas and Anthony Hamilton's Saturday's Vertex Events-hosted Women's Day concert at the Wanderers Cricket Stadium in Illovo, Sandton, fell short of expectations.
Following a segment hosted by Kaya 959's Tbose Mokwele, Thomas finally hit the stage after the restless crowd began chanting, 'We want Joe'!
Frustration extended beyond the arena as concertgoers in lengthy bathroom queues echoed the same sentiment, wondering when the headliners would appear.
When Thomas began his performance, the crowd's patience was rewarded with his soulful voice and silky moves. However, technical difficulties marred the experience as sound glitches interrupted his set, forcing him offstage after just three songs. The glitches, which first reared their head during Zonke Dikana's performance, weren't fully resolved, despite prior efforts.
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After a tense wait filled with confusion and speculation, Thomas returned to the stage, extending his performance as an apparent gesture of goodwill. He dove into his beloved hits, rekindling attendees' enthusiasm with a display of his signature charm.
But the evening's excitement soon disappeared during the agonising wait for Anthony Hamilton.
An unnamed voice reassured concertgoers that the Charlene hitmaker would still perform, but the prolonged delay began to wear on the crowd. Cold, tired, and no longer in a festive mood, many, including myself, considered leaving before Hamilton finally emerged onstage.
When he began his set, fans rallied to sing along and dance, but the joy was short-lived. Without explanation, Hamilton abruptly left the stage, leaving his backup singers to continue the show. For many, this was the final straw.
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As disheartened fans made their way back to their cars, they heard Hamilton's famed Her Heart playing in the distance, but the consensus was clear - no one was tempted to return, as the night had already taken its toll.
Reflecting on the evening, many felt the lack of communication about technical issues compounded the frustration. Understanding that such disruptions can occur, we expected better management and transparency during the extended setbacks.
Addressing the challenges, Vertex Events founder Thato Segaole stated: 'We worked with our highly trusted technical partner, Gearhouse, and unfortunately experienced sound disruptions at certain stages of the show.
'We were, however, very glad that our technical partner, together with the international technical teams, swiftly resolved the issues. The sound quality during Anthony Hamilton's performance was exactly what we strive for - world-class, warm, and immersive. That's the standard we aim to deliver from start to finish.'
Meanwhile, Gearhouse representative Richard Mpofu said: 'We emphasise the importance of planned soundchecks with all artists as they help ensure optimal sound from the first note. We are proud of how quickly our team and international engineers resolved the issues and how the sound ultimately reached the high standard audiences expect.'
Despite their efforts, the night left many fans questioning whether the momentary highs were worth the extended lows. For now, the promise of an unforgettable night will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.