‘Got too big’: Why Byron’s cancelled Splendour doesn’t work

Splendour in the Grass organisers have spoken out after hours of radio silence in the wake of the festival’s shock cancellation. It comes as music industry insiders have weighed in on the “perfect storm” leading to the decision.

• Splendour festival canned

Organisers of the iconic Splendour in the Grass music festival say they hope to be back in “future years” after being forced to cancel the 2024 event.

Fans and industry alike were shocked to hear the mammoth music festival would not go ahead in July just two weeks after tickets went on sale.

“With a heavy heart, we’re announcing the cancellation of Splendour in the Grass 2024, originally scheduled from Friday 19 July to Sunday 21 July in Ngarindjin/North Byron Parklands,” a statement from the festival read. “We know there were many fans excited for this year’s line-up and all the great artists planning to join us, but due to unexpected events, we’ll be taking the year off. We thank you for your understanding and will be working hard to be back in future years.”

Ticket holders will be refunded automatically by Moshtix.

Festival co-ceo’s Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco said: “We’re heartbroken to be missing a year especially after more than two decades in operation. This festival has always been a huge community effort, and we’d like to thank everyone for their support and overall faith. We hope to be back in the future.”

Kylie Minogue, Arcade Fire, Future and G-Flip were some of the superstar names announced to headline the festival, which is held at the North Byron Parklands at Yelgun each July.

Industry insiders claimed “worryingly slow” ticket sales were responsible for the decision to cancel.

A three-day standard ticket to the event priced at $416.92 while a VIP equivalent was $620.82. Day tickets were for sale at $192.63 and VIP at $314.82. Camping was an extra $172.24.

NSW Minister for Music John Graham said the government had hoped the event would proceed.

“The cancellation of Splendour in the Grass is devastating news,” Mr Graham said. “The festival industry is under extreme pressure, and I am deeply worried about the health of the festival scene here in NSW. The NSW Government offered financial support to help the event proceed this year. We will continue to work with them and hope to see them return next year.”

Rolling Stone Australia’s chief operating officer, Joel King, weighed in on the “perfect storm” that led to the shock cancellation.

“It’s a wider issue related to cost of living, poor line-up curation, erratic promoters (not in Splendours case), failure to adapt and create a better festival experience, increased logistics costs, hesitation by fans to buy tickets until closer to the event and ‘Splendour in the mud’ last year didn’t help,” Mr King said.

“(It’s) all creating a perfect storm for event organisers.”

Flume plays to crowds at Splendour in the Grass in 2023. Picture: Danielle Smith/Newswire

Earlier – ‘Got too big’: Why Byron’s cancelled Splendour doesn’t work

Byron business owners have been left reeling after receiving “no warning” of Splendour in the Grass’ shock cancellation.

James Pearce, the manager of Byron’s Hotel Marvell, which opened last August, was left scrambling in the wake of the announcement.

He had a series of exclusive-use bookings and events organised for the Splendour weekend which will no longer go ahead.

“We had no warning,” he said.

“This is all new information to us that we only just found out on social media … we were hoping it might be rumours but it’s not.”

Mr Pearce said he had not yet spoken to other business owners about the news but was confident the effects of the cancellation would ripple through Byron’s largely tourist-based economy.

Hotel Marvell is just one of many tourist-based businesses in Byron. Picture: Supplied

The shock cancellation led Associate Professor Robert Gill, an expert in event management and public relations at Melbourne’s Swinburne University, to question whether Australian music festivals are dead.

He said it appeared that the “Australian music scene is moving away from risk and consolidating on taste”.

“Since COVID-19 the festival landscape has shifted, as people now appear to be more risk averse and mid-level acts feel the squeeze of touring, particularly in Australia, due to rising costs of travel, insurance, crowd management and government policy,“ he said.

“Festivals can be hit-and-miss regarding line-ups of musicians from diverse music genres and young Australians want a guarantee of enjoyment, as their dollar seems to buy less and less. External variables like extreme weather and cost-of-living have made a three-day festival, 70 kilometres away, less attractive compared to a two-hour concert a short train-ride away.”

Byron Councillor Duncan Dey. Picture: Savannah Pocock

Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon said he had spoken to sources close to festival organisers who said the reason the festival was cancelled was a “commercial decision” and that “the festival was likely to lose money”.

He said the cancellation was “very disappointing” but “reflected a broader trend across the world in relation to music festivals”.

“From a local point of view, given how much the Northern Rivers community loves going to the Splendour, it’s a huge blow to local musos, businesses and operators,” he said.

“It’s a big shock – and a sad day.”

Cr Lyon said for Splendour mastermind Jessica Ducrou, the decision “must have been very difficult”.

“She’d be gutted,” he said.

“People have told me that it was a commercial decision, meaning the event would be likely to lose money.”

Byron Shire councillor Duncan Dey said he was not sure why the festival was not going ahead, but believed it put a “strain” on the Northern Rivers in recent years.

“In my personal view, it has gotten too big,” Cr Dey said.

“The site (the North Byron Parklands at Yelgun) is on a flood-plain, and we have seen issues there in recent years.

“The area has a population of 30,000 residents. And if you’re bringing in more than 50,000 people to Splendour there will always be a strain on accommodation, infrastructure and the road network. It’s not a good planning arrangement.”

Kylie Minogue was a headlining act. Picture: Supplied.

Cr Dey said the management of the parklands and the festival had not been in council’s hands “for at least a decade” and was now “controlled by the state”.

“I believe there’s still some of the community here who lament what the festival has become,” he said.

“But I do acknowledge the cancellation of the festival will have a significant impact on the local music industry and the local economy in those service roles.”

Byron Shire Deputy Mayor Sarah Ndiaye, also the shire’s arts and creative industries chair, said she was unaware why the festival was scrapped, but “it’s clear the local music industry is not in a good place post-Covid and following extreme weather events in the Northern Rivers”.

Byron Shire Council deputy mayor Sarah Ndiaye.

“Not only is it a shame for the people that have an incredible time there, but it’s a key economic driver in our winter months,” she said.

“We really need to look closer at what’s going on with our festivals.”

Byron Mayor Michael Lyon is among those who have been contacted for comment on the fate of Splendour.

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Originally published as ‘Got too big’: Why Byron’s cancelled Splendour doesn’t work