In a shock move the Big Day Out have announced via their New Zealand Facebook page that this year will be the last time the event travels to the country. The news comes off the back of a tough year for the iconic festival which suffered a fan backlash after delivering an underwhelming lineup and appalling ticket sales that prompted co-promoter Vivian Lees to call it quits.
Posted on the official Facebook page the festival announced the move rather unceremoniously saying “This year will be New Zealand’s last Big Day Out. Come party with us this Friday. It’s been an amazing 18 years here in Auckland.”
According the 3 News New Zealand promoter Ken West has decided it is no longer financially viable to hold the festival in New Zealand as well as Australia. He was also quick to point out that the first time the event was held in New Zealand, back in 1994, Soundgarden were also the headliner so the event will finish as it began.
But Kiwi fans have already responded with outrage with one commenting “Thanks alot! You dont even have a good lineup to be remembered by!”. The festival was downgraded along with Perth and Adelaide during a lineup reshuffle after dismal ticket sales forced the promoters hand.
“We found ourselves looking back at the Big Day Out and over the last few years it’s grown a bit and it’s become a bit out of control and it’s become a bit, honestly a bit too expensive, so we have looked at I guess going back to the beginning and rebuilding it,” said local New Zealand promoter for the Big Day Out’s New Zealand Campbell Smith in November.
We’ve reached out and are looking for an official statement from the Big Day Out. In the meantime check out our slideshow where we highlight the last 12 months in ‘The Year The Festival Died’.
