Sandtunes 2019: Gold Coast music concert cancelled just weeks before it was supposed to be held

The SandTunes Music Festival has been cancelled just three weeks before the event was due to be held. Fans had been expecting to see some of music’s biggest acts here on the Gold Coast.

THE SandTunes Music Festival is cancelled after fans failed to embrace the move from southern Gold Coast beaches to Carrara’s Metricon Stadium.

The Bulletin can reveal TEG Dainty president and CEO Paul Dainty after meeting earlier today with the State Government confirmed the festival scheduled for November 30 and December 1 would not go ahead.

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SandTunes was set to bring a windfall of more than $10 million to the Coolangatta beach precinct, until opposition by some businesses and residents backed by outspoken Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey created a wave of negative publicity.

The promoters and Government agreed to move to Carrara after Ms Stuckey in State Parliament said the event could damage the region’s reputation and return Coolangatta to “Coolanghetto” when teens were fighting in the streets.

Kate Jones, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate and Promoter Paul Dainty when they launched SandTunes at Coolangatta Beach.

Mr Dainty today told the Bulletin: “We tried our best to make Metricon work for SandTunes.

Metricon is a world class venue which has a storied history of live music and festival events including Foo Fighters, the iconic Big Day Out and the blockbuster Queen and Adam Lambert in February, which we have all but sold out.

“But the reality is that without sand between our punters’ toes, the very notion of the beachside festival in a stadium meant low sales and we had to make the hard decision to cancel this major Gold Coast event.”

Several major cities around the world host beach music festivals – an idea the leading

international promoter thought would work on the Gold Coast, a city renowned as a beachside mecca for tourism and fun.

Metricon Stadium was announced as the new home of the SandTunes music festival after a backlash over the event being held at Coolangatta Beach. Picture: Emily Halloran

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“This whole concept started with bringing a great music festival to the beach which we see happening the world over in major locations like Spain with the Barcelona Beach Festival and Alabama with its Hangout Music Festival,” Mr Dainty said.

“I’m disappointed because I believed this could have grown year-on-year into something really big but unfortunately, we weren’t even able to get it off the ground here.

“I would like to extend my gratitude to the many people who have spent numerous hours over the past two-and-a-half years trying to bring this event to fruition. I would also particularly like to thank the ticket purchasers and supporters of this event.

Dan Barr from TEG Dainty, Minister Kates Jones and local MP Meghan Scanlon announced the move to Metricon Stadium. Picture Glenn Hampson

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“Despite this setback, TEG’s commitment to work with the Queensland Government and

City of Gold Coast to bring major acts to the city is still strong now and into the future, starting with Queen and Adam Lambert in February next year.”

Tickets purchased by credit or debit card for SandTunes will be refunded in full including ticket insurance premium if bought. Fans should allow up to 10 working days for the refund to appear in their account.

Patrons who bought tickets in an Agency using cash or EFTPOS will be contacted via phone in the next 14 days to arrange for a full refund.

There were fears Coolangatta Beach would look like this.

Mayor Tom Tate said he was disappointed to learn of the event’s cancellation but considered SandTunes had lost credibility once its location was moved from the beach to Metricon Stadium.

“This is disappointing news for a city which strives to hold major events,” Cr Tate said.

“But when the proponent decided to move the festival from Coolangatta to Metricon Stadium I was always dubious about it – it undermines the real meaning of SandTunes and what is quintessential Gold Coast of having a wonderful act on the sand.

“As we know, there is no sand at Metricon so the authenticity of it melted away. The wow factor is not just the act, it is the experience of enjoying it on the beach.”

Cr Tate vowed council would help to secure another festival, saying “other ideas” were in the works.