VINTAGE VIBES FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES POSTPONEMENT

Sad news coming from the Vintage Vibes team as festival organisers cited ‘current economic pressures’ as the cause for its postponement.

Everyday People has announced its flagship festival, Vintage Vibes, set to take place at Tomich Wines on January 27 and 28, is cancelled. 

The two-day event, which had billed international acts like Rudimental, Groove Armada, and Milky Chance, released a statement on Facebook, outlining the hard decision organisers had to make a fortnight out from the festival taking place. 

“Vintage Vibes Festival…today announced that its January event has been postponed,” organisers wrote. “This decision has not been made lightly; however, current economic pressures have created a landscape within which the festival cannot proceed this month. 

“Increased pressure on supply chains, especially to venues outside the CBD, alongside shifts in economic climates reflect the broader challenges many are facing within the industry.” 

Continuing, organisers stated that it had become clear to them that, within this economic climate, hosting the event in two weeks “would not meet the high standards of experiences we promise our attendees, artists and partners.” 

In light of this, Vintage Vibes has made the decision to move its Adelaide Hills event to later this year, which is still yet to be confirmed. All festival tickets will be rolled over to the postponed date, however, refunds will also be made available via Oztix. 

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported Vintage Vibes Festival,” the statement continues. “From our patrons and artists to our dedicated staff and the local community and we are already planning and excited for what will come.” 

The shock announcement comes as the Australian music industry grapples with a spike in production and touring costs, coupled with the cost-of-living crisis, which has led to an increase in ticket prices while punters' wallets tighten. 

This combination of factors has seen other national music festivals suffer the same fate. On January 5, roving Victorian music festival Coastal Jam announced its January 13 event would no longer be going ahead. The festival was to take place on the Mornington Peninsula with headline acts Lime Cordiale, Austin Millz and Bryce Vine. 

In a video post, Coastal Jam’s organiser/promoter Adam Metwally cited similar issues that led to its cancellation as Vintage Vibes, saying, “Everyone that I know has been feeling the sting of the cost of living crisis and one of the consequences of this has been the much slower than usual and very much last minute sales for boutique events like Coastal Jam. They only have enough money for a few things now, naturally leading to the major festivals [and] massive international tours being the priority, which I fully understand.

“Unfortunately, it’s led to smaller boutique festivals and events such as ours to fall by the wayside.”

Locally, South Australia has seen a string of venue closures that have also cited economic pressures and the ongoing uncertainty of the industry brought about by the cost-of-living crisis and saturation of major music events as the cause for their fold. Fat Controller, Enigma Bar, Dog and Duck, and Wnderland and just some of the venues that have shut up shop, while experimental artist-run bar and music venue, Ancient World, publicly flagged they were heading on the same trajectory if something doesn’t change.  

“It’s the worst I’ve seen it for 20 years,” says Tam Boakes, owner of Jive, another Hindley Street music venue, in conversation with The Note in late December. Jive is just one of the seven venues that make up the Independent Live Venues Alliance in SA, dedicated to promoting a healthy music ecosystem in SA by championing the preservation of grassroots venues. 

Taking to Facebook, Vintage Vibes punters have flooded the statement announcement with messages of support for the festival in this trying time. 

“We can only imagine how hard it can be to deliver an event of calibre in Adelaide,” one user wrote. “Thank you for making such a courageous decision, regardless of the reason, and for continuing in your attempts to bring the vibe to our little town.” 

“Sad news. I’ll hold on to our tickets and the hope that the VV team will be able to work some musical magic,” wrote another. 

For those waiting for further updates on the future festival or refund information, stay tuned to Vintage Vibes’ socials on Facebook or Instagram.