So Solid upset by cancellations

So Solid Crew: Mobo award winners

Garage act So Solid Crew have said they are shocked after four of their concerts were cancelled at the last minute when police warned there could be violence.

Dates at Cardiff, Leicester, Liverpool and London have all been scrapped.

It follows a shooting at their 1 November gig at London's Astoria, where two men received gunshot wounds.

They have made it clear that they abhor violence

So Solid Crew spokesman

The group, who went to number one in the singles charts earlier in the year with 21 Seconds, had to run for cover as gunmen began shooting.

The Metropolitan Police said none of the group was involved in the incident.

It prompted the band to put out a statement saying that they "abhor violence and have made it clear on their record that they want the violence to stop".

'Problems'

So Solid Crew, who are touring with Oxide & Neutrino, were due on stage at Cardiff University Students Union on Thursday night but that has now been cancelled.

A spokesman for the students union said: "The decision to cancel the concert was made on the advice of the police.

"They had received information that there might be problems outside of the venue.

"While they were happy with the security we had organised inside, they felt we couldn't guarantee people's safety outside."

Cardiff University took advice from police

The band were due to perform at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, on 9 December, but decided to scrap the event after meetings with local police.

"We are disappointed but we have been left with no alternative due to safety reasons and the concerns of the police and local authority in addition to our own," a spokesman said.

'Abhor violence'

The band are said to be upset at the venue's decisions.

"The incident at the Astoria, where there was a shooting, did not directly involve So Solid Crew and Oxide & Neutrino," said a spokesman.

"They feel that they are no more responsible for the actions of a minority in the crowd than the England football team was when troublemakers disrupted games in the past."

However some venues are sticking by the tour.

A spokesman for the Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone, where the band is due to perform on 17 December, said they were relaxed but vigilant about the event.

Oxide and Neutrino are number 12 in the charts

"We did not consider the shooting in London to be the band's fault and we will have our own security that we have at all of our concerts," he said.

"We are relaxed about the event but obviously will be vigilant where security and the safety of people is concerned."

The UK tour starts on 5 December at Norwich UAE and they will also play at Wolverhampton, Leeds, Manchester and Southampton.

This year So Solid Crew won three Mobo awards and their number one single, 21 seconds, sold 375,000 copies.

Oxide & Neutrino entered the charts on Sunday at number 12 with Rap Dis.