So much for a heart of gold: Neil Young cancels his free TIFF appearance

In a move sure to have fans pleading “tell me why,” Neil Young has cancelled his much-hyped public appearance at the film festival. The legendary rocker was set to appear at Yonge–Dundas Square on Monday for a public screening of Neil Young Trunk Show, Jonathan Demme’s new concert film about Young.

Details of Young’s appearance were sketchy, but there was no shortage of hopeful rumours (too hopeful, it seems)— spawned in part by a Toronto Star photo caption on August 20, and reported by outlets like Rolling Stone—that he was to give a free concert.

As yet, there has been no explanation for Young’s sudden move, but a spokesperson told the Canadian Press that a “spectacular” performer would be taking his place.

Demme, the Academy Award–winning director whose previous work includes Rachel Getting Married and Silence of the Lambs, will still be on hand to introduce a free screening of his follow-up to 2006’s Heart of Gold, which is nice, but not quite as awe-inspiring for Young’s legion of die-hard fans.