More scary noise on the way...

Metallica, with James Hetfield, has a date in Christchurch. Photo / Martin Sykes

Heavy metal music fans can rest easy knowing Metallica concerts being held in Christchurch will go ahead.

Metallica will be rocking the CBS Canterbury Arena with their two sold-out Christchurch shows this month, hopefully not to a 7.1 magnitude. The 9000-capacity venue appeared not to have been damaged and engineers were making an assessment, according to CBS Canterbury Arena management.

But the news was not so good for those with literary interests.

Organisers of a major writers' festival in Christchurch yesterday pulled the pin on the event, just a day before its drawcard authors were due to arrive in the earthquake-weary city.

Marianne Hargreaves, festival manager, said two sharp overnight jolts were behind the decision.

"Until last night we were going to proceed," she said. "But with the aftershocks continuing we felt that it was not right to carry on. "

Some authors concerned about recurring tremors had contacted organisers and the central Christchurch cordon could have created problems managing the festival.

Ticket-holders will get full refunds for the four-day event, which had 20 international authors scheduled to speak.

South African-born novelist Barbara Trapido cancelled her visit, and English author Simon Winchester plans to visit Auckland but will not venture south.

Festival plans were disrupted by the forced closure of its office in the gothic-style central city Arts Centre and the shut-down of the Repertory Theatre, where a children's programme was to be staged.

Ms Hargreaves said a festival would be staged next year though probably at a different time as the city would be gearing up for the Rugby World Cup next September.

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