Bad rap: Sprung hip hop festival cancelled after police withdraw support

THE Sprung Festival is the latest hip hop event to be cancelled on the Australian live circuit.

Rapper 360 was to appear as part of the Sprung Festival. Picture: Supplied

ANOTHER hip hop festival has been cancelled, continuing the genre’s bad run on the Australian live scene.

The Melbourne leg of homegrown hip hop festival Sprung has been cancelled after Victoria Police withdrew their support for the event.

Sprung was due to take place on October 19 at the Kevin Barlett Sporting Complex in Burnley and was to have been headlined by 360, Seth Sentry and Drapht.

A press release from the promoter said “despite agreements with the Yarra City Council and agreeing to all conditions on provisional liquor license, due to issues raised by the Divisional Planning Unit, North West Metropolitan Region, the Victorian Police have withdrawn their support for the event.”

The Yarra City Council then rescinded the event’s permits, and emergency negotiations to find an alternative venue have stalled, leading to the event’s sudden cancellation.

The Queensland Sprung Festival took place without any incident last weekend.

“Clockwork Entertainment, the promoters for Sprung have prided themselves on the safety and the constant working relationship with the Queensland police on the three previous Sprung festivals and despite every effort to satisfy all the stakeholders involved and the Victorian Police, there has been no compromise,” a statement read.

Those who bought tickets for the Melbourne Sprung festival can obtain full refunds from point of purchase.

It is the latest in a long line of hip hop events being cancelled in Australia, including the Movement festival this year, which was axed at the 11th hour, as well as the Rap City festival.

The controversial Supafest event, which was postponed earlier this year, is still to confirm it will take place in November as planned.

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