The band has been dropped by their management team, tour openers and dozens of radio stations, but concert-goers say they are standing by Hedley as the besieged pop-rockers continue to perform across the country in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations that they have steadfastly denied.

Fans screamed until they were out of breath during Hedley鈥檚 lively performance at Halifax鈥檚 Scotiabank Centre on Friday.

Frontman Jacob Hoggard thanked fans from the 鈥渂ottom of our hearts鈥� for being the people the band could always rely on, but did not directly address the anonymous allegations of inappropriate behaviour involving young fans that have emerged on social media in recent weeks.

鈥淭o everybody 鈥� who has stood behind us all of these years 鈥� through the ups and the downs, through the highs and the lows, the good times and the bad 鈥� Halifax, we could never, ever imagine doing this without you,鈥� Hoggard told the crowd over anthemic music.

鈥淏ecause sometimes life sucks, and that鈥檚 why we鈥檝e got you. And, Halifax, sometimes life sucks, but that鈥檚 why you鈥檝e got us 鈥� Stay in our lives, and I promise we鈥檒l stay in yours.鈥�

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The Canadian Press, which normally does not pay to cover live events, purchased a ticket to Friday鈥檚 show after representatives for Hedley only offered press credentials for the first three songs of the band鈥檚 performance.

Band representatives said Hedley is not giving interviews at this time. Hedley called the allegations 鈥渦nsubstantiated鈥� in a statement earlier this month.

As fans filed into the Halifax auditorium on Friday, many concert-goers said they were more focused on enjoying the show than litigating the allegations against Hedley, which some said had little bearing on their feelings towards the band.

Several fans said they had not investigated the claims themselves, or did not believe it was their place to cast judgment.

鈥淭he band is probably suffering, but until there鈥檚 more about it, everything鈥檚 pretty vague,鈥� said Kristen MacIntosh, who drove from Cape Breton to see the show with her eight-year-old son after buying him a ticket as a Christmas present.

Some fans expressed skepticism about the legitimacy of the claims, questioning why anonymous social media users would bring up years-old allegations online rather than going to authorities.

Madisson Muise, a 16-year-old who came to Halifax from Yarmouth, N.S., to attend her first concert, said she was relieved she could still see her favourite band perform after fearing the tour would be cancelled.

鈥淭heir fans are really supporting them and sticking together,鈥� said Muise.

Charlottetown-based singer-songwriter Kinley Dowling, who is known as the violinist in Newfoundland鈥檚 Hey Rosetta!, said on Instagram that she and four friends protested outside the Hedley concert in Summerside, P.E.I., on Saturday night.

鈥淲e only got some 鈥榣ip鈥� from a few fans, but we just hope they have an open mind in the future,鈥� Dowling wrote in an Instagram post. 鈥滻t鈥檚 not an easy thing for a survivor to tell their story. Let鈥檚 not make it any harder for them just because you like the band鈥檚 music.鈥�

The band鈥檚 performances in Atlantic Canada were met with mixed reactions on social media.

Some diehard Hedley fans cheered on the band from afar, while other Twitter users expressed discomfort with the cloud of controversy following the musicians as they continue their tour in Ontario this week.

Alison Weatherston in Ottawa tweeted that her 15-year-old daughter, who has seen Hedley perform multiple times, was 鈥渉eartbroken鈥� after learning of the allegations against the band.

鈥淪he put her concert tees into the bag of clothes for the Salvation Army,鈥� Weatherston wrote. 鈥滻t鈥檚 hard to see your idols being awful.鈥�

Adina Bresge, The Canadian Press