A sold-out performance, a disputed $30,000 deposit, and allegations surrounding a local DJ have placed Lincoln’s The Royal Grove at the center of a growing controversy. What began as a canceled Levity performance in Nebraska has developed into a public dispute involving artist representatives, venue management, ticket holders, and the local electronic music community.
Levity was scheduled to perform at The Royal Grove on October 8, 2026, with the venue reporting that the show had sold out. However, the performance was canceled before it could take place, prompting conflicting statements about who was responsible and how ticket holders would be reimbursed. The disagreement has since expanded, with another touring artist announcing plans to cancel an upcoming performance at the same venue.
The Royal Grove Details Financial Losses
In a direct message to EDMTunes, The Royal Grove provided its account of the canceled performance, outlining the financial impact and ongoing disagreement with Levity’s representatives. According to the venue, the October 8 show was sold out, and its team had spent months preparing for the event, investing in artist payments, production, marketing, and staffing.
The Royal Grove maintains that it was prepared to move forward with the performance but that Levity’s representatives ultimately canceled, citing concerns involving the venue. The venue claims it paid a $30,000 artist deposit that had not been returned at the time of its statement. It also reported approximately $31,830 in production, marketing, and operational expenses, bringing its claimed financial exposure to approximately $61,830. The venue further disclosed that Levity’s legal representatives had proposed a conditional settlement, which the venue declined.
Levity Disputes Claims of Withholding Funds
Levity has presented a different account of the financial disagreement. In a statement shared through Instagram Stories, the group alleged that The Royal Grove changed its ticket-refund position after the cancellation. Levity maintained that it had offered financial compensation to the venue on the condition that affected fans receive refunds.
The dispute later moved into a public Facebook comment thread, where an account identified as Levity Music directly challenged the venue’s statements. The group described the suggestion that it was withholding money as misleading, pointing to what it characterized as repeated, documented offers to pay the venue. The Royal Grove responded by reiterating that it had not received repayment of the performance deposit, noting that the proposed payments were conditional upon accepting a broader agreement and release of claims.
Broader Community Impact and Future Cancellations
The controversy has extended to other events, with TVBOO announcing the cancellation of his October 23 performance at The Royal Grove. The artist cited the ongoing situation surrounding the venue and encouraged ticket holders to seek refunds. Meanwhile, fans have questioned the status of Boogie T’s previously advertised appearance, though no official cancellation has been confirmed.
The Royal Grove has since announced an official refund and ticket-exchange process for those affected by the Levity cancellation. The venue maintains that it is using its own financial resources to provide these options and has not received reimbursement from the artist. While this provides a path forward for fans, the underlying financial dispute between the venue and the artist remains unresolved.
