The Newsboys are known for “roaring like a lion,” but the final leg of their tour this year ended with little more than a whimper. Scheduled to appear at Jærgårds-ROCK festival in Klepp, Norway on August 24, the festival quietly posted the Newsboys cancelation on Instagram.
Stating that the band “didn’t come with their plane and it was not possible to find other options to bring equipment, crew and band members,” the festival offered customers discounted tickets and refunds.
Meanwhile, the Newsboys have not made an official statement publicly. Instead, the Oct. 24 date has been removed from the ‘Tour’ page on Newsboys.com and only appears on the home page.
Fans were shocked by the last-minute announcement, with one asking on Facebook if the band could arrange a flight to a nearby city. “I find it strange that there are no other options?” the person said.
The official Jærgårds account responded, saying, ”We have checked all the options and it is not possible to get such a large group on an alternative flight. Incredibly sad situation for them and for all of us.”
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In an email to The Roys Report (TRR), the Newsboys said they missed a connecting flight, forcing them to miss the performance.
“The band was looking forward to performing for their fans in Norway on August 24th,” the Newsboys stated. “Unfortunately, due to travel delays in London, the Newsboys missed a scheduled flight from London to Norway and were not able to reroute to get there in time for their planned appearance. As a result, they are now headed back to the states.”
With a slew of cancelled shows, loss of radio airplay, and no record contract, the Norwegian show seemed to be an oasis for the Newsboys. Two accompanying dates in the United Kingdom were cut following the Tait allegations, leaving the Newsboys to foot the cost of one performance as they traveled to Jærgårds-ROCK festival.
This latest blow comes after months of silence by the Newsboys, following their June 5 statement regarding former lead singer Michael Tait’s departure from the band. Stating that they were “shattered” after TRR released allegations that Tait had sexually assaulted three men between 2005-2014, the band has not officially posted online since June 5.
Following further allegations from TRR that Newsboys management covered up an incident of alleged sexual assault in 2014, Newsboys Inc told TRR that an internal investigation is underway. However, there has been no official pause in operation for the band, with owner Wes Campbell seemingly determined to press forward.
The quiet cancellation of the Norwegian tour date, in addition to Campbell’s resignation from the Gospel Music Association board, does suggest that his power in waning.
Campbell’s First Management Company, founded in 1995, has gone quiet. The high-profile firm’s clients previously included Rhett Walker, Martin Smith, Rapture Ruckus, Cochren & Co, Adam Agee, and the God’s Not Dead franchise.
A series of artists have exited the company quietly in the past 18 months, the latest in June following TRR’s investigation into Tait and the Newsboys. Currently, the business has no public roster available, and a list of previous clients are accessible only through web archive WayBackMachine.com. As of August 2025, the website is a holding page.
Jessica Morris is a music journalist, podcaster and author based in Melbourne, Australia.
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9 Responses
I think it’s time for the Newsboys to cancel *all* tours and albums, forever, and lawyer up good… they’re all gonna need it.
Brian! there’s something we agree on, and it’s this!
As the end of the Newsboys has come to an end all over, what Michael Tait’s actions behind the scenes, including what took place during the Christmas tour with Tait and the sound Manager of the Newsboys. Now that Newsboys is suing Faith Live Canada for 5.4 million, as Sheene Hennink cancelled the Canadian Tour. Sheena cancelled cause ticket sales dropped after Michael Tait left the band. Now, Sheena has closed (according to Google) her company as ticket holders are not only demanding their refunds, but she has publicly told some that she will give refunds to them, but then ghosted them. Someone in Calgary, Alberta, has started a class action lawsuit against Sheena and her company for failure to follow Alberta Law by not giving refunds to ticket holders within 30 days of cancelling the tour. As Newsboys are trying to get their cut, but the TRUE fans are the ones who are getting punished. It’s already sad that NO Christian Bands tour Canada, and with promoters like Sheena, why would they?
P.S. Check out Faith Live Canada’s Facebook page and read how Sheena talks to people who place a negative review on her company page.
I really miss Peter Furler.
Steve Taylor as well. The 90’s (real Version) of Newsboys was great!
Was Steve Taylor in the Newsboys? I remember his solo stuff in the 80s. Maybe i remember this? I absolutely quit everything Christian around 1993, and started touring myself around 1998. I told my parents that I would never, ever go to church again. The LORD had other plans, as He took heroin from my life, and replaced dope with solid theology, and the ability to find recovery. Anyway, I guess I will Google Steve Taylor.
Every time an allegation of this magnitude occurs, it seems like multiple people come up later and say ” oh they touched me too”. Now the true work begins to figure out how many are money grabs and how many years are damning. Hopefully all involved get what’s deserved.
Scott Baker,
It’s been categorically stated that Tait’s gayness and his predatory ways were “the worst-kept secret” in the CCM industry for thirty-odd years. In light of that… yeah, I am going to believe all the professing victims.
(Just to make clear, I am not equating being gay to always being a predator or perv, but the CHRISTIAN music industry should not have given a pass to flagrant sin behavior that the Word categorically condemns.)