Lunar Electric Festival organisers contact ticket holders of Gold Coast event after failing to announce line-up, secure venue

The fate of a major music festival, which promised to bring huge global acts to the Gold Coast, has been revealed.

Organisers of a major music festival, which promised to bring global superstars to the Gold Coast, have confirmed the event will not go ahead next month.

Grammy Award-winning Doja Cat was promoted to perform at the festival alongside fellow US rappers 6ix9ine, NLE Choppa and Swae Lee, UK stars SwitchOTR and Russ Millions along with hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd and Jamaican singer Popcaan.

Doubts were raised over the likelihood of the festival going ahead at Doug Jennings Park on March 11, after it failed to secure key performers or confirm the venue.

After the plight was revealed in the Gold Coast Bulletin on Thursday, ticket sales were deactivated, and the names of high-profile artists, including Doja Cat, 6ix9ine and Russ Millions, were removed from the ticket portal.

A screenshot of the festival’s ticket portal taken on February 12.

The ticket portal was marked as ”allocation exhausted” in all categories, with some artists removed, on February 16.

Posts to the festival’s social media accounts on Thursday night confirmed the March 11 event would not go ahead on that day.

“Unfortunately we have had to make the difficult decision to postpone the March Lunar Electric tour until September 2023,” the posts said.

“We want to ensure we deliver the best line up and experience for you all and this just couldn’t be achieved at this time.

“We apologise for the delay in communicating this to you and hope you’ll be there with us come September for what is going to be one huge Lunar Electric tour!”

The posts said existing tickets would be valid for the September show, with those opting to hang onto them able to claim a complimentary plus-one.

The post, which had comments disabled, said “refund options” would be available.

The Bulletin has contacted ticket seller Oztix for a response.

A post to the Lunar Electric Festival Facebook page.

Concerns raised over whether major festival will go ahead

February 16, 2023: Doubts have been raised about a major music festival which has sold thousands of tickets but is yet to secure its venue or some of its big-name performers, less than a month out from the show.

Lunar Electric promised to bring global superstars, including Grammy-winning Doja Cat, to Doug Jennings Park on the Gold Coast on March 11.

Ticket holders flooded social media channels with concerns about whether the festival would go ahead after announcements on the line-up, due weeks ago, never eventuated.

The festival had published a 2023 line-up on its website, but it appears to have been unlinked from its home page.

The page promotes Doja Cat alongside fellow US rappers 6ix9ine, NLE Choppa and Swae Lee, UK stars SwitchOTR and Russ Millions along with hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd and Jamaican singer Popcaan.

Lunar Electric published a 2023 line-up, but unlinked it from the festival’s home page.

At least one of the acts will not grace the Lunar Electric stage.

“I have no idea why they are using Russ Millions’ name as he is not booked for this event,” said Patrick Alcide, of London-based booking agency LiveBase.

“This is fake.”

The Bulletin has contacted record companies and agents for the other artists for comment.

One ticketholder, Hayden Moore of Newcastle, said he and his mate had paid $180 each for tickets, but had doubts from January about whether or not it would go ahead.

“I’ve been asking (organisers) about the line-up and refunds, and I’ve just been left on read,” he said.

“I called the venue and they explained it was under investigation and they couldn’t tell me much, but advised that I don’t book accommodation.

“I’m fed up with festivals like this promising when they can’t deliver.”

Hayden Moore (centre, blue hoodie) bought tickets to Lunar Electric 2023.

As trustee for Doug Jennings Park, Gold Coast Waterways Authority is responsible for issuing permits for major events held there.

The authority was unable to comment on specific permits “until they have been formally approved”. It was unable to comment on Lunar Electric.

The Bulletin has contacted the festival organisers for a response.

The Lunar Electric Festival operates through company Intensive Events, which is directed by Shaun Dunn, 46, and Simon Leigh, 59.

Shaun Dunn.

Simon Leigh.

Both have home addresses listed with ASIC on the Gold Coast and in Port Macquarie.

The pair own 35 per cent of shares in the festival company between them, while the remaining 65 per cent are owned by Do & Co Holdings.

Do & Co is directed and held by Cypress Phillips, 27, and Okativi Fonua, 41.

Promoters Shaun Dunn (left) and Simon Leigh (right) with DJ Will Sparks (centre) and Artist Liason Katrina Hunt ahead of a previous festival. Picture: Glenn Hampson

As well as worries over the venue, there are also concerns two of the acts, who have faced serious criminal charges in the US, would not be allowed into Australia anyway.

The Department of Home Affairs would not comment on individual cases, but said non-citizens wishing to enter the country had to meet identity, health, security and character requirements.

“The Australian Government will continue to act decisively to protect the community from the risk of harm posed by individuals who choose to engage in criminal activity or behaviour of concern, including visa cancellation or refusal where appropriate,” a spokesman said.

US rap singer 6ix9ine, or Tekashi 69, performs during the Philipp Plein fashion show as part of the Women's Spring/Summer 2019 fashion week in Milan. Photo: AFP

The festival organisers have been under siege on social media since artists and suppliers came forward saying they were still owed payments from last year’s festivals.

The festival’s Melbourne and Adelaide shows were cancelled last year, with ticket holders complaining they never received refunds.

While the Sydney and Gold Coast events went ahead in June, several artists have spoken out about unpaid fees – including The Veronicas, who said they were owed $100,000.

The Veronicas’ Jessica Origlasso told News Corp Australia she and sister Lisa not only lost half their fees but were out of pocket for tens of thousands of dollars they had to pay for flights, hotels and band and crew wages.