A Day on the Green featuring Rod Stewart at Mt Duneed Estate cancelled

Fans have been left frustrated and disappointed after A Day on the Green featuring Rod Stewart was cancelled yet again, just hours before it was meant to take place.

Rod Stewart performs at Rod Laver Arena on March 14, 2023 in Melbourne. (Photo by Sam Tabone/WireImage)

Rod Stewart’s long awaited Geelong concert was cancelled after the crooner was diagnosed with a viral infection.

Stewart was due to play at A Day on the Green, supported by Cyndi Lauper and Jon Stevens, at Mt Duneed Estate on Saturday.

Gates were due to open at 3.30pm but about midday Saturday, organisers took to social media to announce the cancellation.

“Live Nation and Roundhouse Entertainment regret to announce that tonight’s performance by Rod Stewart, Cyndi Lauper and Jon Stevens … will not go ahead, due to illness,” the statement said.

“We apologise for the disappointment and inconvenience to ticket holders.

“A further announcement regarding the concert arrangements will be made early next week.”

On Saturday night, Stewart posted to Instagram that he was “absolutely downhearted” that he had disappointed fans.

“Late this morning I was advised that I have a viral infection and my throat is too irritated to sing,” he said.

“I’m doing everything I can to get back on the mend and back on stage.”

Stewart, 78, who performed in Melbourne during the week, was initially meant to play in Geelong in October 2020, but this was postponed to March 2022.

That show was then cancelled due to Covid.

On Saturday afternoon some people who were not happy with the short notice took to social media with their grievances.

One person wrote: “(A) text this morning would have been nice before we travelled down from (Melbourne).”

Roundhouse Entertainment’s Michael Newton said organisers worked as quickly as possible to get the message out to everyone as soon as they were told the news about the show not going ahead.

“Emails and texts were sent to all ticket purchasers via Ticketmaster earlier today,” he said on Saturday.

Karen Georgakis had flown down from Mackay to see Rod Stewart play A Day on the Green. Picture supplied.

“We understand that people are travelling from all over the state.”

“Only the one ticket purchaser would have received the information from Ticketmaster; not all the concertgoers attending with them would receive the message.

“Therefore, by sharing the news via social media this would ensure the news would get to as many … as possible, as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

“All tickets buyers that purchased tickets via unauthorised ticket sellers and resellers, like Viagogo, will not be informed via Ticketmaster.”

Cyndi Lauper performs at Rod Laver Arena. (Photo by Sam Tabone/WireImage)

The last minute cancellation left some interstate travellers out of pocket.

Karen Georgakis had flown from Mackay, Queensland to see the concert, spending $800 on flights.

Ms Georgakis said she did receive a notification, but not before she discovered the concert had been cancelled on social media.

“I had tickets for the 2020 concert, (it was) rescheduled and then cancelled due to Covid, I lost money on flights,” she said.

“This time flights cost $800, I’m lucky I never paid for accommodation because I’m staying with family.”

Ms Georgakis said she hadn’t seen her family in three years, and the family had planned a reunion at the concert.

“All my family are down here. We were meeting at the concert. I understand that (the cancellation) is due to illness, but for interstate visitors it is at a high cost,” she said.

Ms Georgakis said that she would be unable to attend a future concert, even if it was rescheduled, due to the cost of flying down.

Originally published as A Day on the Green featuring Rod Stewart at Mt Duneed Estate cancelled