Is this the death of Aussie music? From Splendour in the Grass to Groovin the Moo, why almost every festival was axed in 2024 as artists share their concerns over the future of live gigs

A string of Australian music festivals were axed this year in a huge blow to the live music industry.

Festival goers were left stunned when hugely popular events such as Groovin The Moo, Splendour in the Grass and NYE In The Park were called off due to poor ticket sales and the ‘impossible’ economic climate.  

Pandemonium Rocks managed to defy the odds and just barely managed to go ahead this month despite being cursed with a litany of issues.

Organisers were forced to change its line-up and reduce it to a single-stage, before suffering a massive data breach which reportedly exposed sensitive information of hundreds of ticket holders.

The event also attracted controversy when it was scheduled to clash with the traditional Anzac Day March in Sydney’s CBD.

While the festival was not rescheduled for another date, is was promptly moved to Cathy Freeman Park in the Sydney Olympic Park Precinct. 

Despite the hurdles, the rock extravaganza kicked on across Melbourne, Newcastle, Sydney, the Gold Coast and Brisbane over the last week.

Rock legends including Alice Cooper and Blondie took to the stage for the tour, and it remains one of the few festivals that has managed to still go ahead this year.

Here, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at all the Aussie festivals that have been canned as musicians share their increasing concerns over the future of live music in the country.

Groovin The Moo

Groovin The Moo is one of Australia’s largest music festivals and has been running every year since 2005, apart from 2020 and 2021, when it was halted due to Covid.

This year, the music extravaganza had been set to tour cities including Wayville, Canberra, Bendigo, Newcastle and the Sunshine Coast between April 25 and May 11.

However, in February, organisers announced that the 2024 festival had been forced to cancel, just two months before it was set to kick off.

Just one week after tickets went on sale, organisers confirmed the regional shows would no longer be going ahead this year, citing poor ticket sales.

‘Ticket sales have not been sufficient to deliver a regional festival of this kind. All tickets will be refunded automatically,’ a post read.

‘Thank you to everybody who has supported the festival. We hope to be able to bring Groovin the Moo back to regional communities in the future.’

Popular DJ Alison Wonderland had been set to headline the festival, and she performed at a one-off show in Sydney on April 24 following the cancellation.

Aussie rock legends Jet had also been set to play at the festival alongside Australian music heavyweights such as San Cisco, DMA’s, The Jungle Giants and King Stingray.

Splendour in the Grass

Splendour in the Grass had been due to take place from July 19 to 21 at the North Byron Parklands, with Kylie Minogue headlining.

But last month, the 2024 event was cancelled just weeks after the line-up was announced, with organisers citing ‘unexpected events’ as the reason behind the decision.

They confirmed ticket holders will be refunded and said the long-running festival will be ‘working hard to be back’ in years to come as its future remains uncertain.

A statement read: ‘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.

‘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. Ticket holders will be refunded automatically by Moshtix. 

‘We thank you for your understanding and will be working hard to be back in future years.’

Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco, of event organisers Secret Sounds, added: ‘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.’

As well as Kylie, popular artists including G Flip, Arcade Fire, Future and Girl In Red had also been set to take to the stage at the 2024 event.

Kylie said of the cancellation: ‘I was so looking forward to being there and all of us having the best time. Oz, I’m looking forward, now more than ever, to be home and playing shows for you.’

Taking to X – formerly known as Twitter – the Padam Padam hitmaker added: ‘SITG, this must have been a difficult decision.’ 

Since its inception in 2001, Splendour in the Grass has been held in various locations across NSW and Queensland.

At the height of its popularity, the festival attracted 50,000 revellers across the three days, but this year’s line-up copped criticism over its lack of renowned headlining international acts

In the past, Splendour has nabbed a slew of international acts including Kendrick Lamar, Tyler the Creator, Flume, Queens of the Stone Age and The Smashing Pumpkins.

NYE In The Park

NYE In The Park has also collapsed in recent weeks after it was unable to pay its debts.

The NSW Supreme Court recently ordered ITP Music Pty Ltd, the business behind the event, to go into liquidation.

The court has appointed Vincent Pirina of insolvency firm Aston Chace Group as the liquidator, news.com.au reported earlier this month.

Flight Facilities, Lime Cordiale and Cut Copy have all headlined the festival since its launch in 2017.

There has also been no posts or activity on the NYE In The Park social media pages since the beginning of 2023.

Logistics company Kennards Hire reportedly took legal action against NYE In The Park in February over an unpaid debt of an unspecified amount.

Bingo Commercial also took legal action over a reported $14,000 debt.

ValleyWays

In January, ValleyWays was forced to cancel just weeks before it was due to kick off at Onslow Oval in Camden, in Sydney’s southwest on February 17.

The festival was created in 2022 by Hottest 100 winners The Rubens in partnership with TEG MJR, a touring and events business that is set to tour Hans Zimmer through Australia.

Aussie music heavyweights Grinspoon, Ball Park Music and Ruby Fields were due to perform at the epic show, but Ticketek later confirmed the event was cancelled, with tickets refunded.

‘It is with a heavy heart, that TEG MJR and the Rubens are announcing that ValleyWays is being cancelled for 2024,’ an announcement on the website read.

‘We understand that cost of living pressures and rising interest rates have severely impacted patrons, particularly in regional areas like Camden.

‘It simply isn’t the right time for this ambitious music festival to take place.’

The announcement said The Rubens were ‘committed’ to bringing the festival back to Camden and growing the live music scene in their hometown Macarthur area.

Tent Pole Music Festival 

Geelong’s Tent Pole Music Festival was also cancelled just weeks before it was due to kick off with organisers blaming the ‘impossible’ economic climate.

Ticketholders were given a full refund after the 2024 show – which was set to be held on February 17 at Mt Duneed Estate in Geelong, Victoria – was axed.

The event was organised by Roundhouse Entertainment, who are behind the popular A Day on the Green also held at Mt Duneed Estate, in collaboration with Love Police and I OH YOU founder Johann Ponniah.

Among the bands which had agreed to play at the 2024 event were locals acts Civic, RVG, Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, Delivery and the Belair Lip Bombs. 

The festival was also set to be headlined by American 90s indie legends Dinosaur Jr and Scottish post-rock pioneers Mogwai.

The organisers announced the cancellation on the Tent Pole Festival’s official website back in January.

‘In a very disappointing turn of events we have made the difficult decision to cancel Tent Pole 2024,’ they said.

‘This decision has not been made lightly as there is still strong belief in the event and what it can offer, however, the current economic climate coupled with the difficulties associated with establishing a new regional festival has made it impossible for us to proceed.’