Australia’s Splendour In The Grass music festival has reportedly been cancelled, according to The Sydney Morning Herald and Triple J. This announcement comes just two weeks after the festival’s line-up for July’s three-day event was revealed, including headliners such as Kylie Minogue and Future, as well as other prominent performers like G Flip and Turnstile. However, the event organizers have yet to confirm the cancellation.
This is not the first time in recent years that Splendour In The Grass has faced adversity. Last year, the festival failed to sell out, with ticket sales dropping by 30% compared to the 2022 edition. If the festival is indeed cancelled, it will mark the second major festival to be axed in Australia this year, following Groovin The Moo, which announced its cancellation due to low ticket sales.
These reported cancellations add to a string of festival cancellations in recent years, with Falls Festival also announcing it would not return for the 2023/2024 season to give organizers a chance to “rest, recover, and recalibrate” after several years of compounding challenges including pandemic lockdowns, unpredictable weather events, consumer confidence, and waning interest from the next generation of young festivalgoers.
Industry leaders and promoters have been speaking out about the post-pandemic struggles faced by Australian music festivals and what needs to be done to secure their future. Mitch Wilson, Managing Director of the industry’s peak body Australian Festival Association, has stated that the industry is on a precipice due to these challenges.
It remains to be seen how these festival cancellations will impact the Australian music scene going forward, but it is clear that something needs to be done to stem the tide of closures and ensure that these events can continue to provide entertainment and cultural experiences for future generations
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