Fan fury as Splendour day-one acts cancelled

Eager music fans flocked to the Byron Bay campground for the first time in two years on Friday, but were greeted with lengthy delays and a flooded North Byron Parklands due to heavy rainfalls.

“A significant weather system is currently sitting off the east coast and may reach land later today, bringing more rainfall,” Splendour said in a statement.

“In the interest of patron safety and in consultation with all relevant emergency services, we have decided to err on the side of caution and cancel performances on the main stages today only.

“All of our destination spaces (Global Village, Tipi Forest, Forum, Comedy and Science tents etc) will remain open today for patrons who are already onsite, as well as those at our satellite campground at Byron Events Farm.”

But the festival will continue over the weekend, with organisers saying they “look forward to Saturday and Sunday programming moving ahead as planned.”

Moshtix will be in direct contact with those directly affected in the coming weeks regarding refunds.

Attendee Ashleigh Costello waited almost five hours in the cold this morning to get into the festival, only to be told all music acts had been cancelled for the day.

“No one knew what was going on … we weren’t told anything,” she said.

After hearing the news, Ms Costello said festival goers were lining up for buses or bars.

“Everyone is leaving, flocking to bars … people are going to party in Byron,” she said.

“Everyone is just drinking and standing because there is no shelter or dry seats.”

The 26-year-old paramedic said she had been checking the festival app for updates but no notifications had come through.

“I only found out that it had been cancelled when I checked Instagram … nobody said anything here.”

Disappointed, cold and doubtful the rest of the festival will go ahead, Ms Costello said she wishes she never went.

“It’s honestly messed up … it’s just an absolute sh*t show,” she said.

“I don’t know how they’re going to save this.”

Acts that were supposed to perform at the Amphitheatre, Mix Up, GW McLennan and Park(lands) stages on Friday included the Gorillaz, DMA’S, The Avalanches, Yungblud and Baker Boy.

Organisers announced earlier on Friday they were no longer accepting any campers or vehicles at the parklands due to the heavy rain, following reports of 12-hour waits just to get into the grounds.

Artists scheduled to perform over the weekend include Jack Harlow, The Strokes, Liam Gallagher and Tyler, the Creator.

Originally published as “A complete sh*t show: Confusion as day one of Splendour cancelled