US rapper Ice Spice’s New Year’s Eve fail at Wildlands Festival

Thousands of revellers packed the RNA Showgrounds for the Wildlands music festival after forking out $350 a ticket, but many were left scathing due to the late arrival of a key act.

Ice Spice performs at Wildlands Festival at RNA Showgrounds. Photo: Grace Kessels

Wildlands festival, which rocked the RNA Showgrounds on New Year’s Eve, saw thousands of punters welcoming in the new year with some of their favourite musical acts.

But controversy erupted prior to the New Year’s Eve set, when American rapper Ice Spice arrived late for her set.

Multiple fans have called on the festival organisers to address the controversy souring the event.

Ice Spice performs at Wildlands Festival on New Year’s Eve. Picture: Grace Kessels

Music and events company behind Wildlands, Untitled Group, have been contacted for comment.

Fans took to Instagram to voice their frustration in Ice Spice’s late arrival.

Ice Spice fan, Courtney Warren told The Courier-Mail, the rapper was a major factor in her interest in attending the musical festival, but has now been left with a sour taste in her mouth.

“Last night at Wildlands, Ice Spice arrived 25 minutes late for a 30 minute set, and then performed for only about 5 minutes,” Ms Warren said.

Ice Spice left fans disappointed. Picture: Grace Kessels

“I actually thought there was a sound issue because she sounded terrible, missing lots of words and lyrics on her tracks – the one and a half she actually did.

“But it seems she just chose to disappoint her fans by turning up late and not doing her set.

“I am a fan of her, and she is a major act and headliner at the festival, that I and the majority of attendees were there to see as a big drawcard for tickets.

“Considering I paid $350 for a ticket that she was a headliner on, it’s pretty disappointing.

“I’d never pay to see her live again”.

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Another punter, who only wants to be identified as Harry, said the rapper has a habit of turning up late for sets, arriving late for the Beyond the Valley festival in Victoria over an hour late.

“Basically she turned up 80 minutes late to her set, and performed to a very low energy crowd because everyone was over it,” he said.

“She pushed back the artists after her by over an hour which was frustrating as I was keen for the last performers and would drive home afterwards.

“At Wildlands, they cut off her mic after only five minutes because the act after her was playing 11.30 to 12.30, through the New Year’s countdown, so they couldn’t afford to delay it.

“People are p*ssed overall because she underdelivered and left a sour taste for Aussies.

“It’s never the festivals fault, artists like that don’t respect other artists or the festival organisers, but the damage it’ll do for her Aussie fans is irreversible and she won’t get booked here again”.

Festival goers who wished to remain anonymous said they were told Ice Spice’s set had been pulled, despite “a massive inflatable Ice Spice balloon” being on stage.

“About 20 minutes or so into her set time, two black Mercedes-Benz vans pulled up and out she jumped,” one said.

“When they cut her mic, she looked pretty tense, and she looked like she was trying to keep performing, but nothing could be heard.

“Then she put her hand up into the air and went off stage. A lot of people aren’t happy about it”.

Ice Spice. Photo: Grace Kessels.

Wildlands responded to comments on Instagram that they were held to a very strict curfew at 12.30am.

“We understand that Ice Spice’s delayed arrival caused some disappointment. Managing a stacked festival means that we have to be extremely firm with set times,” the post read.

“We had a strict curfew of 12.30 and need to ensure that the final act went on stage on time, so everyone could enjoy the New Year’s Eve countdown”.

The festival has also faced unconfirmed reports the acts could be heard as far as 8km away in suburbs like Windsor and Stafford.

A spokesman from Untitled Group said they had not been informed of any noise complaints and were compliant with the 12.30am curfew.

Festival goer Sophie Duncan, who lives with a disability, praised the organisers for the accessibility measures they had in place.

“I love going to music festivals, but I haven’t been able to go for over a year because they’re too difficult,” she said.

“I asked the organisers ahead of the festival if I could bring my yoga mat and mobility tools and use them throughout the day to get by as well as having spaces I could move freely, and it meant the absolute world to me.

“You have no idea how hard life is when you’re constantly in pain and struggling, but just want to have a good time”.

Untitled Group are also the organisers behind Ability Fest, a festival promoting access and inclusion within the music industry.

The brainchild of former wheelchair tennis grand slam winner, Paralympian, 2022 Australian of the Year and disability advocate, Dylan Alcott, Ability Fest expanded to Brisbane for the first time in 2024.