‘Ruin everything’: Coastal Jam Festival scrapped days before it was to start

A major Aussie music festival has been forced to cancel its 2024 event just days before it was due to begin.

A major Aussie music festival has been forced to cancel its 2024 event just days out from when it was due to start.

Coastal Jam will not go ahead on January 13 in the picturesque Mornington Peninsula, two hours from Melbourne.

The popular beachside touring festival, which had been running since 2017, had previously landed in Geelong, Warrnambool and Torquay.

Coastal Jam will not go ahead in January. Picture: Instagram

The shock announcement was made on the festival’s Instagram page where event organiser Adam Metwally said the decision had “not been made lightly” but described it as “necessary”.

“Everyone that I know has been feeling the sting of the cost of living crisis and one of the consequences of this has been the much slower than usual and very much last minute sales for boutique events like Coastal Jam,” he said.

“(Music fans) only have enough money for a few things now, naturally leading to the major festivals, massive international tours being the priority which I fully understand.

“Unfortunately it’s led to smaller boutique festivals and events such as ours to fall by the wayside.”

This year’s line-up featured Lime Cordiale, Austin Millz and Bryce Vine. Picture: Instagram

Mr Metwally said he did everything he could to keep ticket prices as low as possible but the concept of a “pop up music festival” was “very expensive to run, particularly during a cost-of-living crisis”.

“I’ve tried everything I could think of to try and steer the ship back in the right direction, and I have to make the call, but nothing I have come up with has worked. I’m sorry for letting people down,” he said.

The musical line-up promised to mix popular electronic local artists with international sensations at an iconic venue for the anticipated 5,000 festival goers.

It included local acts Lime Cordiale, WA’s Dice, singer Mathilde Anne, DJ and producer Ben Gerrans and Melbourne four-piece, Sunday Honey.

The popular festival has been running since 2017. Picture: Instagram

International acts slated for the event included Los Angeles rapper Bryce Vine, Californian crew Sun Room, and in-demand New York producer Austin Millz.

Ticket holders now have the opportunity to partially refund their ticket and attend an alternative event, apply for ticket credit for future events or gain a full refund.

Social media users were quick to send messages of support.

“You’ve crushed it for many years bro with Coastal Jam, you’ll be back bigger and better,” one person wrote.

“It’s never easy to make tough calls,” a second wrote, adding: “thank you for trying. And chin up.”

“You’ll be back bigger and better next time,” a third wrote.