Summersalt music festival cancels in Mackay without explanation

Festival goers have been left with questions after the Mackay leg of a national event tour was seemingly cancelled without an explanation.

The pit at the Summersalt festival in the Botanical Gardens Ampitheatre. Picture Glenn Campbell

Festival goers have been left disappointed after a one day music event in Mackay featuring Aussie music icons was cancelled.

Summersalt festival was set to headline acts including Missy Higgins, The Waifs, Fanning Dempsey National Park and Birds of Tokyo at Harrup Park on Saturday, May 3.

But punters and ticket holders were notified by Ticketmaster on Friday, April 4 that the event would not go ahead.

“Regrettably, due to issues that could not have been reasonably anticipated, the Summersalt concert scheduled to be held in Mackay on May 3, 2025, is cancelled,” they wrote.

Mackay was added as an extra leg of the festival’s national tour and the only one out of all nine dates to be cancelled.

Aussie music icon Missy Higgins was going to headline the event set for may 3, 2025 at Harrup Park. Photo: Nighthawk Creative

Devastated punters took to Facebook demanding answers after no social media post was made by the promoters.

One punter wrote she was “disappointed that there has been no communication explaining why this has happened”.

“Many of us have booked this well in advance, and are travelling from surrounding regions, so have paid for transport and accommodation,” she said

“This is really poor form.”

“Devastated Mackay was cancelled,” another person wrote.

The festival’s organiser, Face to Face Touring said while they did not “discuss details of cancellations”, there were “several factors at play”.

“All patrons will be (and most have already been) refunded in full,” their Chief Operating Officer, Roy Adams said.

“We don’t know if the Summersalt festival will take place there again.

“The season is finishing and we are currently in our planning for next Summer.”

Council’s Executive Manager of Economic Development and Tourism, Teona Cousin, said it was always disappointing when an event scheduled for the Mackay region had to be cancelled due to unforeseen external factors.

“We’ve had a long association with this event promoter and are looking forward to more events for Mackay in the future,’’ she said.

Among the Aussie icons set to grace the festival stages was Nineties legends Paul Dempsey and Bernard Fanning as part of their new joint project Fanning Dempsey National Park.

Paul Dempsey and Bernard Fanning of Fanning Dempsey National Park. Photo: DarcyGossMedia

Mr Dempsey said it had been nearly 15 years since he last played in Mackay during the Powderfinger farewell tour and was looking forward to showcasing his band’s newest album ‘Deluge’.

“I’ve just realised how long it’s been and now I’m ashamed,” Mr Dempsey said.

The Summersalt tour included shows in Launceston, Batemans Bay, Mornington in Victoria, Mount Gambier, Victor Harbor, Port Macquarie, Cronulla and Busselton.

Originally published as Summersalt music festival cancels in Mackay without explanation