Sydney Festival abruptly cancels high profile three-day music festival – as organisers blame ‘cost of living pressures’
Sydney's first ever Summerground music festival has been scrapped just weeks after the event.
The three-day music extravaganza was organized by the Sydney Festival in 2024 and was scheduled to take place at Tumbalong Park from January 5 to 7.
Unfortunately, organizers announced on Thursday that the entire event had been canceled for financial reasons.
“The Summerground mid-city music festival, scheduled as part of the 2024 Sydney Festival, has unfortunately been cancelled,” the official message read.
“Changing consumer behavior, cost of living pressures and rising operational costs are impacting many major music festivals across the country and unfortunately Summerground was not immune to these factors,” the report continued.
Sydney's first ever Summerground music festival has been scrapped just weeks after the event
The Sydney Festival has promised to fully refund all ticket holders.
“We remain fully committed to the spirit of live music and are proud to present a wide range of other music offerings in the 2024 program that showcase the diverse talent our music scene has to offer,” they said.
Summerground featured a lineup of local and international talent, including Australian soul group The Teskey Brothers and indigenous rockers King Stingray.
The three-day music extravaganza was organized by the Sydney Festival in 2024 and was scheduled to take place at Tumbalong Park from January 5 to 7. (Image: the Teskey Brothers, who were scheduled to perform at the festival)
British acid jazz group Brand New Heavies was also scheduled to perform, along with Tanzanian-Australian singer-songwriter Beckah Amani and Cuban musician Cimafunk.
A one-day ticket cost $89, while a two-day ticket cost $140.
A pass for all three days costs $210.
British acid jazz group Brand New Heavys (pictured) was scheduled to perform at the festival
Cuban musician Cimafunk (pictured) was also booked to perform
Festival director Olivia Ansell previously described Summerground as 'a three-day lush summer oasis' during an interview with Sydney Morning Herald in October.
She said at the time that tickets were reasonably priced to make the festival accessible despite the cost of living.
“We listen to the current rhetoric around inflation and costs, and I believe there is such a large demographic for this type of music that these types of festivals are not being held in the heart of Sydney.”
“We are the largest city in the country and we should offer this.”