Among Jewish music's brightest stars, Benny Friedman stands out for blazing his own trail to success. Unlike many of his peers who come from the industry's established musical families, Friedman has risen to become one of Jewish music's most popular performers purely through his own merits - combining exceptional talent, versatile performances, and what many describe as one of the most genuine personalities in the business.
Unfortunately for his fans, London's historic Clapham Grand has canceled Jewish music star Benny Friedman's upcoming concert just 24 hours after tickets went on sale, citing "security concerns." The cancellation comes after organizers already faced significant challenges finding a London venue willing to host the event.
The January 6 performance, part of Friedman's "Am Yisrael Chai Tour" organized with ACM Events, was scheduled following years of requests from London fans. Tickets had been selling rapidly since their Sunday release before the venue's abrupt Monday morning cancellation.
"We are completely stunned by this news, and disappointed that a reality like this for the Jewish people is still possible in 2024," the Am Yisrael Chai Tour team said in a statement.
The tour organizers noted they had encountered "huge obstacles" in securing a venue, with multiple locations reportedly unwilling to host a Jewish event or align with pro-Israel sentiments. Despite the setback, a second UK show scheduled for January 7 in Manchester is still set to proceed.
"We are determined to secure an even bigger venue in London," organizers said. "We will see you in London, and we will keep you posted with further updates."
The Clapham Grand, a Victorian-era music hall, has not provided additional details about their security concerns.
Updates on a new venue are expected to follow.
YWN contributed to this article.
