Peppers or Kanye West?

Kanye West. Picture: celebitchy.com

Concertgoers will face a conundrum come February 2 next year as they choose between two shows held on the same night in the same city.

The question: to attend a rocking Red Hot Chili Peppers concert at FNB Stadium, or go for rapper Kanye West, whose show will be held at a secret venue.

The staging of the Peppers concert hit a speed bump when soccer lovers raised concerns over the pitch being used for a concert just a week before the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off.

However, Stadium Management SA (SMSA) said it had everything under control.

SMSA chairman Jacques Grobbelaar said it was disconcerting that his company was being blamed for casting aside the interests of football in favour of concerts.

“Football and concerts will have to co-exist in the unique stadium-utilisation model employed by SMSA.

Delivering world-class events to every football fan and concertgoer is of utmost importance to SMSA, as is running a sustainable and profitable venue that does not cost the taxpayer any money, knowing that the one can’t be separated from the other,” he said in a statement.

Fears that the concert might be moved to another venue have proved to be baseless, with Grobbelaar insisting that SMSA had signed a venue-hire agreement with Big Concerts – the organisers – on August 11 2011.

“We had the first informal discussions relating to Afcon on July 9 2012 and, to date, we are yet to finalise a contractual agreement.”

Between April and May 2013, the stadium will host more international acts, including metal band Metallica, rock band Bon Jovi and teen pop sensation Justin Bieber.

Other big events expected next year are Cirque Du Soleil, which will run from March 5 to 10 in Cape Town and March 21 to 24 in Johannesburg.

Legendary folk singer Rodriguez will also be performing in both cities in February.