Two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Graham Nash and singer/songwriter Jesse Welles both canceled concerts scheduled this week at Richmond VA’s Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, citing an ongoing labor dispute at the garden.
Welles canceled his sold-out Groovin’ in the Garden show Wednesday afternoon, only hours before the scheduled performance. He announced the change in a social media post, saying the decision was made “in solidarity with the workers on strike at the botanical garden.” He said he did not want fans to be put in a position to cross a picket line to attend the concert.
Nash followed suit in an Instagram post around 7 p.m. Wednesday, saying he was canceling his Friday concert, citing the striking workers and saying all tickets would be refunded.
The decision comes amid an ongoing labor dispute between Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and workers seeking changes related to wages and working conditions.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Jesse Welles for standing with working people,” IAM Union Organizer Bridget Fitzgerald said in a news release Wednesday evening. “His decision sends a powerful message that workers fighting for fair wages deserve the community’s support. We hope garden leadership hears his message.”
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