Eminem Gig Could be Canceled due to Mission Convention

By Daniel Blake, Christian Post Contributor Friday, June 24, 2011

An Eminem gig scheduled for August may be canceled because of a local church missionary prayer service.

Eminem, real name Marshall Bruce Mathers III, has been set up as a headline act for the open air “Tennent’s Vital” music festival in Bangor, Northern Ireland on August 24, 2011.

However, there is now the possibility that the event’s entertainment license will not be granted, as it will clash with Bangor Missionary Convention’s 75th Anniversary prayer service.

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The Tennent’s Vital music festival was set to take place in Wart Park and last for two days. However, the venue is located just meters away from Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church, which is hosting the missionary event.

According to music site The Boom Box, the local Borough Council has received an official objection to the music festival being granted its entertainment license.

Local man Brian Ashworth, 47, is leading a group of concerned residents to oppose the music festival and is currently lobbying the local council to gain support for their objections.

In particular, the group is opposing Eminem as an artist whose lyrics are widely known for being crude and abusive.

According to The Boom Box, Ashworth explained: “I have no issue with a family-friendly concert in a park but this is a performer who uses the crudest language -- language that degrades women and has the foulest, most twisted content.

“I have been doing a survey to determine how far the lyrics will be heard and local residents tell me that they heard previous concerts at the park. The council should never have allowed this,” he added.

A spokesman for the council has confirmed that an objection has been received and that it was being taken into consideration.

Ashworth concluded: “The main motivation for this event is to make money, and while it is important to stimulate the economy, it shouldn't involve breaching decency.”

As well as Eminem, other acts scheduled to take part in the Tennent’s Vital festival include D12 and The Kaiser Chiefs.

A decision regarding whether the music festival’s entertainment license will be granted or refused will be made in July.