No refunds for Jack Johnson concert cancelled by storm

Jack Johnson spent this morning cleaning up a Sydney beach, as the concertgoers were told there won’t be refunds for Monday night’s cancelled concert — just a small consolation prize.

While most international artists spend their downtime in Sydney soaking in the beaches, US singer Jack Johnson is cleaning one up. Picture: Richard Dobson

Sydney Opera House will not be refunding tickets to Jack Johnson’s cancelled Monday night gig but are offering a small consolation prize to disappointed attendees.

The first of Johnson’s three Sydney gigs — and the first he’s played here in three years — was called off by police at the Opera House Forecourt when a lightning storm hit on Monday night.

“This is really hard for me to say but the police are shutting us down,” Johnson told his fans, some of whom had forked out up to $300 to see him live.

Jack Johnson had only been playing for about 50 minutes when officers evacuated thousands from the Sydney Opera House Forecourt, on Monday at about 8pm. Picture: Don Arnold/WireImage

Due to mounting pressure on the venue, Sydney Opera House invited Monday night’s ticketholders to attend a “special” one-hour sound check at 3pm before the Wednesday performance — but will not be offering refunds.

“We share everyone’s disappointment and apologise for any inconvenience caused. However, the lightning storm in the area posed a significant safety risk to all attendees on the forecourt,” a spokesperson for the venue told The Daily Telegraph.

US singer Jack Johnson. Jack is in Sydney to play three shows, but was at Whiting Beach on Tuesday to help the Taronga Conservation Society do a hands-on clean up of plastics and junk washed up on the sand. Picture: Richard Dobson/The Daily Telegraph

Johnson had only been playing for about 50 minutes when officers evacuated thousands from the harbour venue, at about 8.30pm.

“Although we would have liked a little more music, fortunately a substantial performance was delivered so refunds will not be offered in this instance,” the spokesperson continued.

“In an effort to make it up to his fans, Jack Johnson has agreed to do a special hour-long sound check performance this Wednesday for ticketholders from Monday night’s performance.”

Johnson is one of a growing number of artists pledging to make their tours more environmentally friendly. Picture: Richard Dobson/The Daily Telegraph

Ticketholders received an email inviting them to an event “solely” for them, which is actually Johnson’s 3pm sound-check, where “free water and toilets will be available,” without other food and beverage services.

Initially organisers had posted a video to the Better Together singer’s Instagram on Tuesday morning, saying they “hope to make this up to you all in the future.”

While some fans thanked Johnson for their experience, albeit brief, others questioned whether they would receive refunds or be able to attend one of the other shows this week.

“In the future?,” one disappointed fan commented. “I really hope you rearrange the tickets to watch Jack this week, as we’ve being waiting for years to see him playing. Although it’s not his fault, we deserve some amends”.

“It was a beautiful day in the Sydney Harbour where we gathered with family, crew, and some of our incredible All At Once Non-Profit partners to clean Whiting Beach, close to the iconic Sydney Opera House where I’m performing this week,” Johnson said. Picture: Richard Dobson/The Daily Telegraph.

When contacted on Tuesday morning by The Telegraph, the venue was scrambling to make a plan.

Their consolation prize email also thanked attendees for their “swift co-operation” in looking after each other “and leaving in a calm and orderly manner”.

Meanwhile, the 47-year-old singer was getting his hands dirty cleaning up Whiting Beach, near the Taronga Zoo Wharf in Mosman.

The secluded spot with postcard-perfect harbour views has for years been plagued by copious amounts of discarded plastics and rubbish.

Early on Tuesday morning, Johnson and his touring crew caught a ferry to Whiting Beach, near the Taronga Zoo Wharf in Mosman. The secluded spot with postcard-perfect harbour views has for years been plagued by copious amounts of discarded plastics and rubbish. Picture: Richard Dobson

Johnson is one of a growing number of artists pledging to make their tours more environmentally friendly.

“It’s important to give back to local communities on tour and we’ve built long-lasting relationships with these community groups,” Johnson said of his work with the Taronga Conservation Foundation and Tangaroa Blue.

“The goal today was not only to remove trash from the harbour but … to raise awareness about solutions to plastic pollution.”

Johnson added that he’s doing his best to reduce plastic waste on tour “by offering water refill stations, hosting a plastic-free backstage, and promoting BYOBottle and reusable cups”.