'The show has to go on' - late headliner change sees Wheatus fly in for Send It 100 at Pitt St. Skatepark after Scouting For Girls pull out
‘Teenage Dirtbag is basically the unofficial anthem for every '00s teenager’
A festival celebrating Portsmouth’s centenary through extreme sport and music has had to make a late replacement after the headline act pulled out.
Scouting for Girls were set to headline on Saturday, September 19 but pulled out due to a schedule conflict. Replacing them at short notice is pop-punk band Wheatus whose song ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ became a massive hit in 2000 with its popularity enduring today.
The American band are flying in especially for the festival which is being held at Pitt St. Skatepark on September 19 and 20.
Bill Osborne, events promoter, said: "We're gutted to have lost Scouting for Girls this close to the event, they were a big part of what we'd built towards, and we know some people will be disappointed. But the show has to go on, and we think Wheatus are actually a better fit for a weekend built around skate and pop punk energy.
“We're honoured that the band is flying all the way from the US to perform just for us. Teenage Dirtbag is basically the unofficial anthem for every '00s teenager."
Wheatus join a line-up that boasts Toploader, Dave McCabe, Wilkinson, Ardee and Serum. Send It 100 is about more than just music though with extreme sports competitions taking place over the two days.
A number of international vert riders have already been confirmed with BMX rider Vince Byron and Inline skater Takeshi Yasutoko being joined by skateboarders George O'Neill and Jake Anderson.
Alongside competitions there will also be kids' coaching sessions, roller discos and indoor street comps running across the two days. The skate competitions are open for application to a wide range of skill levels, ages and abilities with a prize pot of £10,000 over the weekend.
Tickets are available from £35 for adults and £10 for kids aged 6 to 17, with under 5s going free. Pitt St. Skatepark is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company with every ticket sold going directly towards keeping the skatepark running.
After confirming that they had pulled out of the festival, Scouting For Girls sent a video shared by Pitt St. where they apologised for pulling out of the festival.
Lead singer Roy Stride said: “I am really gutted to say that we will not be appearing at the Portsmouth show on Saturday, September 19. I just can’t get over due to a scheduling conflict which I have tried everything to move. I am so sorry.
“ Portsmouth has been some of the best crowds we’ve had in the last couple of years. We will be back at some point.”
For more details on the festival and how to buy tickets visit https://pittstskatepark.com/send-it-100/.