Live Nation and Niche Productions entry into the festival market, the Nas-curated hip hop one-day Movement Festival, which was scheduled to go head-to-head with the stricken all-ages urban festival Supafest in capital cities around the country over the Anzac Day weekend, has now announced its collapse.
Following on from last week’s announcement that Movement Festival had suffered setbacks, including losing headliner 2 Chainz and Angel Haze from the lineup and downsizing to indoor venues due “a worse than anticipated long rang weather forecast,” the newest entry to the Australian music festival has befallen what seems to be an ongoing curse of Australian hip hop events.
Despite already announcing set times last week for the lineup, featuring Nas, Bliss N Eso, Chiddy Bang, Joey Bada$$, Spit Sydnicate, Thundamentals, as well as adding Diafrix and Iggy Azalea to the ranks; the promoters have pulled the plug on Movement, just one week out from its kick off at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Friday 26th April.
A statement issued today reads:
Live Nation and Niche Productions regret to advise that it has become necessary to cancel the inaugural Movement Festival, which was scheduled to take place in Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth next week.
Recent developments, including the withdrawal of Angel Haze (due to a clash in recording commitments) and more recently 2Chainz (due to Visa issues resulting from a pending unresolved court case) led to a change of venues in some markets, which has prompted patron feedback that the event no longer reflected what had been advertised.
The statement announcing Movement Festival’s cancellation also notes Live Nation and Niche Productions’ “intention of providing a well-organized, fully funded multi-artist Hip-hop and urban music festival, to overcome the disappointment that has occurred in the past due to event cancellations and talent withdrawals from similar events in recent years.”
A various obvious reference to the patchy history of touring events and festival in Australia in recent years, as demonstrated by the debacles involving Flo Rida, Pitbull, and Mos Def’s Australian tours, and the spectacular financial crash of Heatwave.
More pointedly, rival festival Supafest, which recently revealed it could be in a state of crisis – being dumped from venues and rumoured lineup drop-outs; all despite promoter Dwayne Cross promising a ‘drama-free’ run for 2013. Downplaying the controversy of lineup dropouts and spiralling debts from last year’s Supafest, owing investors nearly $2 million in debts, as well as owing fan’s refunds.
The organisers of Movement Festival are keen to emphasise that their cancellation was as much about not being able to fulfil promises made, the Live Nation statement reading:
Despite their best endeavours, the producers have been unable to fulfil their commitment and as such it has been determined that the festival will not go ahead. Those who have supported Movement by purchasing tickets will be provided with a full refund for their tickets.
Whilst this is a disappointing result, Live Nation and Niche view their commitment to deliver the events as advertised very seriously.
For all tickets booked online or by phone, the credit card used in the booking will automatically be refunded. Please allow up to 5 days to receive your refund. If the original credit card you used for the purchase has been cancelled or no longer valid please contact place of purchase.
If you made your booking at an outlet please return to the original outlet where the booking was made with your ticket(s) and credit card used to purchase in hand to obtain your refund. Refunds will only be provided to the original purchaser on presentation of photo ID.”
Movement Festival 2013 Lineup
NAS / BLISS N ESO / CHIDDY BANG / JOEY BADA$$ / IGGY AZALEA / DIAFRIX / SPIT SYNDICATE* / THUNDAMENTALS^
(* Melb, Bris, Perth) / (^ Sydney Only)
Movement Festival 2013 Dates & Tickets
Live Nation & Niche Productions present MOVEMENT
SYDNEY – HORDERN PAVILION – FRIDAY 26TH APRILwww.ticketek.com.au
MELBOURNE – FESTIVAL HALL – SATURDAY 27TH APRILwww.ticketmaster.com.au
BRISBANE – EATON HILLS HOTEL- SUNDAY 28TH APRILwww.ticketmaster.com.au
PERTH – METRO CITY – TUESDAY 30TH APRILwww.oztix.com.auwww.ticketmaster.com.au
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
