Big Day Out hit out at Blur's decision to quit the summer festival

BIG Day Out organisers say Blur's decision to pull out of the January music festival has left them feeling 'devastated and confused'.

Frontman Damon Albarn and his band Blur won't be playing the Big day Out in January. Pic: AFP/Pablo Porciuncula

Big Day Out promoters are "devastated" by Blur's 11th hour decision to pull out of the Australian summer touring festival.

It is likely the band's three-year reunion may have run its course.

The British band were to join Pearl Jam and Arcade Fire as a headliner on the 2014 line-up but ambushed organisers with their cancellation via social media yesterday.

Blur pointed the finger at "shifting goalposts" in their Facebook announcement, which shocked Big Day Out promoters said left them "devastated and confused".

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Sources suggest the band may have been referring to the festival promoters wishing to cancel a third main stage which had been designed to accommodate having three marquee acts on the bill.

It is believed a dispute erupted when Blur were told they would perform either before or after Arcade Fire.

"We've done our very best to work with the organisers and considered every option to make it happen, but they've let us down and let everyone else down too," Blur posted on Facebook.

But a series of tweets with fans last night by Soundwave supremo AJ Maddah, who bought into Big Day Out a few months ago, suggest the Blur reunion may have run its course.

"That's the feeling I get. Not sure why they would blame festival when all everyone here has done is kiss their ass," Maddah posted in reply to a fan who asked if Blur may be breaking up again.

He also said the organisers had made every effort to accommodate Blur's demands "within the possibility of curfews & public safety."

Maddah and his American BDO partners C3 Present, have been trying to whip the festival into shape since taking over from co-founder Ken West.

When the line-up was announced a few months ago West revealed that he never expected to get all three headliners to agree to the event when he went after them.

Usually there are two major acts who close the main stages.

West said when he met with the band in Mexico earlier this year Blur frontman Damon Albarn had been reluctant to continue with the reunion as he wanted to focus on his solo album due in 2014.

The band did not do interviews to promote their return to Australia for the first shows in 17 years.

Maddah said Blur also knocked back offers to do side shows during their festival run which would have increased their purse from the Australian tour.

Big Day Out organisers plan to announce a replacement and Maddah has promised fans via Twitter that those unhappy with the new act will be able to secure refunds.

"Who gives a hoot about profit at this point. It's about protecting the show and the fans who put their trust in BDO," Maddah tweeted.

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