Bon Iver Cancelled

Bon Iver cancels Houston modern dance performances after sudden scandal

Bon Iver's February 20 and 21 show at Jones Hall with TU Dance was cancelled over sexual harrassment complaints against dance company co-founder.

Photo by Jayme Halbritter

The Society of the Performing Arts staff, modern dance aficionados, and fans of folk-rock hero Bon Iver were left disappointed when the acclaimed indie artist cancelled his scheduled Houston performances of Come Through with the Minnesota dance company TU Dance on February 20 and 21 at Jones Hall.

The cancellation comes after TU Dance co-founder Uri Sands resigned from the company following allegations of sexual misconduct. While Sands and the company deny any wrongdoing, Justin Vernon, who writes and performs under the Bon Iver name, announced the show would not go on as planned in Houston, Nashville, and New Orleans.

“Due to circumstances outside our control, all upcoming performances of ‘Come Through’ have been cancelled,” Bon Iver said via his Twitter account. “These decisions are never taken lightly by the Bon Iver team; our deepest apologies to fans who’ll miss out on these performances. Bon Iver will be back to your area soon.”

Correspondingly, the Society of Performing Arts released their own statement via a spokesperson:

"Due to circumstances beyond our control the entire tour of Bon Iver & TU Dance: Come Through has been cancelled. While we at SPA are terribly disappointed by this news, we respect the decision of the artists and value creating a space in which everyone can feel safe."

Jaelyn Lyles with Society for Performing Arts tells CultureMap, "Cancellations do happen, but we respect the artist's decision." And while there are no plans to reschedule with Bon Iver, she said SPA would be more than happy to have him back.

She also pointed to other performances for those jonesing for dance-based performances with a modern music soundtrack, including Mark Morris' Pepperland, "a kaleidoscopic music and dance adventure set to the music of The Beatles" on tap for January 30 and 31 and MacArthur Genius Grant winner Kyle Abraham's "A.I.M's Untitled Love," "a wonderful down-tempo groove to a D'Angelo soundtrack" set for June 4 and 5.

This isn't the first time a Houston music event has been cancelled due to allegations of sexual harassment. The popular multimedia music and art-based Day for Night Festival closed up shop in 2018 after three years after women accused festival founder Omar Afra of sexual misconduct.

Ticket holders for Come Through will be offered a full refund at the point of purchase.

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Texas-based microbrewery theater chain claims Houston's shuttered Alamo Drafthouse

Courtesy of Flix Brewhouse

The menu includes burgers and other sandwiches.

The Houston area’s shuttered Alamo Drafthouse will soon reopen under new ownership. Flix Brewhouse has claimed all four Drafthouse locations that had been operated by Triple Tap ventures, including two theaters in El Paso and one in Lubbock.

Founded in Round Rock, TX in 2011, Flix Brewhouse touts itself as “the world’s only first-run cinema brewery.” The acquisition brings Flix to 15 locations nationwide, including theaters in San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Albuquerque. The Houston location is in Katy’s LaCenterra development (2707 Commercial Center Blvd.).

All four locations will reopen on February 23, in time for the release of Scream 7, with tickets going on sale February 13.

“This acquisition is a natural extension of who we are and what we believe in,” CEO Chance Robertson said in a statement. “Cinema success today means creating better experiences. We’re grateful to the entire Triple Tap team for their work in cultivating these moviegoing communities, and we’re honored to carry that legacy forward.”

Similar to an Alamo Drafthouse, Flix serves a wide range of classic American fare, all of which is scratch-made in the theater’s kitchen. They include breakfast tacos (available all day), burgers, salads, pizza, and entrees such as chicken tenders, fish and chips, and quesadillas. Naturally, theater goers have four popcorn choices: butter, bacon ranch, elote chili lime, and dill pickle.

They’re paired with beers brewed exclusively for Flix. Current styles include a Scottish ale, a raspberry wheat, a hazy IPA, and a Mexican-style lager. Last year, it won a Gold Medal at the Texas Craft Brewers Cup.

Each location screens first-run films as well as “Flix Picks” for classic movies and a FanFest screening that includes a custom menu and a souvenir glass. All theaters feature digital projection and sound, reclined seating and parabolic screens.

This YouTube commercial previews the experience.

“As the industry continues to evolve, Flix Brewhouse remains focused on thoughtful, strategic growth and delivering a distinctly different experience for moviegoers,” Robertson added. “The path forward in exhibition isn’t one size fits all. Innovation at Flix means staying true to what sets us apart: our craft and constant drive to raise the bar on quality, service, and community.”

Alamo Drafthouse opened its Katy location in 2018. It closed on Saturday, February 7.

Courtesy of Flix Brewhouse

The menu includes burgers and other sandwiches.

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