It never rains and then it pours.
While the persistent precipitation in Queenstown yesterday may well have been welcomed by many, for British reggae band UB40 it was nothing short of a nightmare, when its Queenstown show was cancelled.
Then, less than two hours after the promoter announced the concert had been called off, the rain stopped.
UB40, supported by Jason Kerrison and Herbs, was to have played at Waitiri Creek Winery as part of the Red Red Wine Vineyard Tour.
Promoter Jackie Sanders said after receiving advice from electricians and the production team who were trying to set up in heavy rain it would be unsafe to hold the concert outdoors, the crew scrambled to find an alternative.
Attempts to relocate the gig to the Queenstown Events Centre were unsuccessful.
Ms Sanders said the centre didn't have as much capacity and there wasn't enough time to set up.
Everyone, particularly UB40, was "gutted'' to have to pull the pin, she said.
With no alternative dates available, it was unlikely the band could reschedule the concert and return at the end of the tour.
The band will play in Canterbury today and Auckland tomorrow.
Ms Sanders said promoters would "demand'' the band be brought back to Queenstown - likely to happen in 2017.
About 3000 tickets were sold, with refunds available.
Some voiced their frustration on social media yesterday afternoon, blaming the promoters for not keeping ticket-holders in the loop.
"The promoters suck,'' one said.
"They should have been keeping an eye on the weather and organised an alternative venue or at least sent through some updates throughout the day.''
One woman said she was "spewing'' having not been given a full refund, while another was "crying into my red red wine''.
Others posted on UB40's Facebook page, saying they would have been happy to "dance in the rain''.
One group of ticket-holders looked on the bright side, holding their own UB40 concert at the Queenstown Rec Ground.
Queenstown residents Niamh Murphy, Vicky Duff, Sam Johnson and Carley Bragg were all on a bus about halfway to the venue yesterday, when they began receiving emails, initially saying the concert had been postponed and the venue was being changed.
The friends - decked out in ponchos and gumboots - remained on the bus waiting to hear whether the concert would be held at the events centre until "the bus driver broke the bad news to us'', Ms Johnson said.
They were contemplating driving to Christchurch today to watch the band perform at Waipara Hills.
Also at the rec ground last night were Invercargill residents Jared and Desiree Alapaki, Raera Tuau-Templeton, Carley Bragg and Ricky-Lee Whiunui, who had taken yesterday off work, driven to Queenstown and paid for accommodation.
It would have been Ms Bragg's first concert - the tickets were given to her as a Christmas present.
Levanaa Cavanagh had also bought a ticket for herself and another as a Christmas gift for her father.
"I can't even begin to explain how upset I am I missed out,'' she said.
"I would have stood in the pouring rain, wind and snow to hear them play.''
It is understood Herbs and Kerrison, along with "special guests'', performed at The London bar and restaurant in Queenstown last night.
