Whilst it seemed like there was no way it would happen, the organisers of Legion Festival have confirmed the heavy metal touring festival is “fully funded” and will go ahead in 2017.
The festival was originally dreamed up as a replacement for the late Soundwave Festival with Devil You Know drummer John Sankey at the helm and a budget comprised of crowdfunded contributions.
After an initial crowdfunding round failed to raise the necessary $3 million by deadline, organisers postponed the festival until 2017 and relaunched the crowdfunding campaign.
At the time of writing, Legion’s Pozible campaign has still only raised just over $360,000. However, organisers now write that this has given them enough “leverage” to go ahead with the event.
In a press release, organisers write they will no longer accept pledges and the crowdfunding campaign will be brought to a close, with the festival to move ahead January next year.
Sankey said in a statement that the support from crowdfunders made moving ahead possible:
“Given that it took longer than anticipated to lock in a headline act, along with a number of other external forces going on in the industry at the moment, we realised that, even though these issues made it very difficult for us to reach our goal in time, the campaign support had given us all the leverage necessary to move forward and fund and confirm the festival.”
[include_post id=”470142″]
With the festival’s budget shortfall presumably to be made up by ticket sales, prices and on-sale dates will be announced shortly and those who’ve donated will be “heavily rewarded”.
The current Legion lineup features the likes of Lordi, Devildriver, Devil You Know, and more (see the full list below), but organisers promised additional acts and headliners will be added shortly.
“As the founders of this festival, myself, Mark Spillane and Kristie Lawrence are committed to ensuring that we stick to our promise of creating something truly special and unique for the fans and we promise that we will continue to be completely honest and transparent throughout the planning process,” said Sankey.
Legion Festival 2017
LORDI (FINLAND)
DEVILDRIVER (USA)
DEVIL YOU KNOW (USA)
DARKEST HOUR (USA)
FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY (CAN)
BATTLECROSS (USA)
CAPTURE THE CROWN (AUS)
DREAM ON, DREAMER (AUS)
AVERSIONS CROWN (AUS)
HEARD OF COWS? (AUS)
28 DAYS (AUS)
CALIGULA’S HORSE (AUS)
POLARIS (AUS)
DARKC3LL (AUS)
RICK DANGEROUS AND THE SILKIE BANTAMS (AUS)
MOFO IS DEAD (AUS)*
MY SECRET CIRCUS (AUS)**
HORRORWOOD MANNEQUINS (AUS)***
Saturday, 21st January 2017
Perth (Mini-Fest)
Sunday, 22nd January 2017
Adelaide (Mini-Fest)
Thursday, 26th January 2017
Melbourne
Saturday, 28th January 2017
Sydney
Sunday, 29th January 2017
Brisbane
* Brisbane only ** Melbourne only *** Sydney only
