‘Biggest f***ing joke’: Aussies fume as festival headliner Stormzy is replaced

A UK rap sensation is the latest international act to withdraw from an Aussie music festival, leaving ticket holders raging.

British rapper Stormzy is the latest international act to withdraw from an Aussie music festival, a move which has left ticket holders raging.

The 29-year-old grime freestyler was due to headline Australian music, food and art festival Spilt Milk in Canberra, Ballarat and the Gold Coast in December.

The rap phenomenon was also set to embark on his world tour in Australia across NSW, VIC and SA however had to cancel due to “circumstances out of his control.”

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UK rap icon Stormzy has cancelled his Australian tour, including his performance at Australian music festival Spilt Milk. Picture: Jemal Countess/Getty Images

The Vossy Bop rapper has already rescheduled his shows in Australia, having been scheduled to first perform in 2020 and not havin returned to the country in five years. Picture: Jemal Countess/Getty Images

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to inform you guys I must cancel international commitments for the remainder of the year which includes my Australian and New Zealand tour,” he said.

“You guys have waited so patiently, and I am so sorry that this has to happen after all these ups and downs. I love you guys and I promise I will be back as soon as I can with a show that’s bigger and better than ever.”

The Vossy Bop rapper is set to be replaced by American musician Steve Lacy, best known for his hits Bad Habit and Dark Red, with Spilt Milk organisers announcing the artist cancellation and replacement on Thursday.

Spilt Milk poster shows Steve Lacy newly added to the lineup instead of Stormzy. Picture: Instagram / @spiltmilk_au

“Steve Lacy, aka the coolest person alive, is joining the Spilt Milk 2022 line-up alongside Flume, The Wombats, FISHER, Spacey Jane and more. Steve will be replacing Stormzy as he unfortunately has had to cancel all of his international tour dates.”

Lacy announced the festival appearance as part of his 2022 Australian tour which will see the singer performing live in the country for the first time since 2020.

The festival is offering refunds for the change in lineup and will be reselling these tickets on October 6.

Spilt Milk ticket holders expressed their grief at Stormzy’s cancellation only months before he was due to perform. Picture: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

The news of the artist’s swap has caused a stir among festival ticket holders with many upset with Stormzy’s exit from the lineup.

“I’m so mad,” said Instagram user Lizzie on the announcement post.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” “so gutted about Stormzy” and “was looking forward to Stormzy” said other disappointed festival goers.

Users were confused also as to why a rap artist was not replaced with a headliner of the same genre.

“Should have replaced with another rapper or group,” said an Instagram user.

“Gutted. This is beyond disappointing. I’ve been busting to see Stormzy. What a great start to the day. Don’t even want to go now,” said a frustrated Stormzy fan.

Bad Habits singer Steve Lacy is set to replace Stormzy at Spilt Milk. Picture: Instagram / @steve.lacy

Other music fanatics were thrilled to see the replacement artist for the lineup and praised Spilt Milk organisers and Triple J for how they handled the UK artist’s cancellation.

“How are we seeing Steve Lacy WTF,” “OMG I love Steve Lacy” and “this just made the lineup better in my opinion,” said users.

A common theme among responses to the new lineup was the recent trend of international guests or special headliners for Australian festivals pulling out last minute.

“Australian musical festivals are literally the biggest f***ing joke,” said one Instagram user.

This comes as US rapper Polo G pulled out of his Aussie shows for the Listen Out festival this month for unknown reasons.

“I’m not gonna be performing in Australia so to anybody who was anticipating seeing me I’m sorry”, he said in a post.

Half of the smash house and electro duo Disclosure, Howard, also recently pulled out of the Listen Out festival to “look after his mental health” leaving his partner Guy “handling all the DJ duties.

Burna Boy cancelled his Australian Tour this week with event organisers delivering the news to fans on Monday. Picture: Instagram / @thehourgroup

Grammy award-winning Nigerian singer Burna Boy announced on Monday, his first ever Australian headline shows set to kick off in Sydney on Friday would be cancelled also, leaving Aussie fans devastated.

“It is with great regret that Burna Boy’s performance at Aware Super Theatre on Friday 30 September has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances,” said event promoters Live Nation and The Hour Group.