Thousands attend Hedley's final show in Kelowna before 'indefinite hiatus'
'This is goodnight, not goodbye'
Thousands attended Hedley's concert in Kelowna, B.C. on Friday, the band's final show before going on indefinite hiatus.
According to the box office, 3,100 tickets were sold for the concert at Prospera Place, a venue with a capacity between 4,000 and 5,000.
At the end of the concert, singer and band frontman Jacob Hoggard signalled the band may return.
"Let me be very clear, this is goodnight, not goodbye," he told fans.
The band announced on Twitter that they'd be be going on hiatus after sexual misconduct allegations against singer Hoggard surfaced in February, suggesting he had inappropriate encounters with young fans.
Hedley performing at its last concert tonight in Kelowna before the band takes an‘ indefinite hiatus’ because of sexual misconduct allegations. <a href="https://t.co/ywmZhrtlr1">pic.twitter.com/ywmZhrtlr1</a>
—@BradyStrachanIn February, the band pulled out of the Juno Awards taking place in Vancouver this weekend, where they were being considered for group of the year, pop album of the year and the fan choice prize.
Since the allegations were made public, the band's tour has faced road bumps.
In Windsor, the venue cancelled the band's scheduled show entirely. In Thunder Bay, the show was moved to a smaller venue.
On March 16 ,Toronto police confirmed that the sex crimes unit opened an investigation into Hoggard.
No charges have been laid.
Concert attendee Kara Knight said the allegations against Hoggard didn't affect her love for the band. She said it was a "very emotional" concert for her.
"I think it's sad that their lives are basically being ruined by all of this, but there are still a lot of fans and we support them," she said.
Chris Jerstad was at the concert, trying to sell two tickets his daughter had bought for $75 each "months and months ago." He said after she heard about the allegations, she decided not to attend.
"She refuses to go because of the allegations against the lead singer, she told me that bluntly," he said. "I respect that, that's her stand."
"She just wants to get face value for them and no one will touch them. It's usually pretty easy to move a concert ticket — not tonight."
Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard’s closing remarks to Kelowna fans tonight at the band’s last concert before it takes an ‘indefinite hiatus’ amidst sexual misconduct allegations. <a href="https://t.co/QTYGGgoKaT">pic.twitter.com/QTYGGgoKaT</a>
—@BradyStrachanWith files from Brady Strachan