Shock Waves As Australia's Splendour In The Grass Cancels

Festival Goers Attend Splendour In The Grass 2023 — ***Festival goers are seen entering the gates at Splendour in the Grass 2023 on July 21, 2023 in Byron Bay, Australia. (Photo by Matt Jelonek/Getty Images)***

There were shock waves through the Australian live scene when Splendour In The Grass became the sixth major festival to be cancelled for 2024.

It was to stage July 19-21 at North Byron Parklands.

In a statement March 27, Secret Sounds revealed, “Due to unexpected events, we’ll be taking the year off… We thank you for your understanding and will be working hard to be back in future years.”

The festival had March 12 announced its bill, with exclusives from Kylie Minogue and Future, along with Arcade Fire, G Flip, Hayden James, Turnstile and Fontaines D.C.

This was Splendour’s latest woes, after underselling in 2023 although it expected to return to its traditional 50,000 this year.

Calling the news “devastating,” Australian Festival Association managing director Mitch Wilson said, “More than A$234 million ($159 million) of revenue was attributed to contemporary music festivals in 2022, making up 11.7% of the total revenue of the Australian live performance industry.”

He added, “In the 18–25-year demographic demand for tickets in this key age group has decreased when compared to the same age group prior to the pandemic.”

It was for decades been a festival seen as a rites-of-passage event for younger patrons.

New South Wales arts minister John Graham, whose government in January had given the festival A$100,000 ($65,344) towards its 2024 edition.

“The festival industry is under extreme pressure, and I am deeply worried about the health of the festival scene here in NSW,” Graham said.