Rap Concert Featuring Nelly Facing Axe

Plans for the first ever rap show in a Missouri resort town have been thrown into doubt after city officials denied requests for the required permits.

Concert promoter Paul Dunn hired hip-hop star Nelly to headline the gigat Branson's The Grand Palace venue next month (Aug10).

The show was due to be staged in the parking lot of The Grand Palace because the interior is undergoing renovations and the back lot can hold upto 6,000 people, compared to the 4,000-capacity of the hall itself.

But city planning director Jim Lawson has turned down the permit application, citing concerns about noise, parking and crowd control.

Dunn has also been accused of promoting the event and selling tickets for the 21 August (10) concert before even submitting documents to local officials, although the promoter insists the latest papers were simply updates of ones turned in weeks earlier.

Dunn is preparing to file an appeal to fight the decision.