New Zealand Music Festival Now In Doubt Following Soundwave Cancellation

The axing of Soundwave 2016 means New Zealand punters might miss out too.

The country’s annual punk, rock and metal festival WestFest is now in jeopardy, with only one band remaining on the 2016 lineup.

A handful of acts booked to play SW16 have also pulled the plug on their follow-up performance at the NZ festival – which was scheduled to hit Auckland’s Kumeu Showgrounds on January 30th – after Soundwave went down the toilet.

At least one of those is NOFX, who were scheduled to headline the event alongside Hatebreed and Refused.

The festival promoters have released an official statement via Facebook, indicating that there is only one international act remaining on the lineup. And while the fate of the festival has not yet been decided, refunds are now available (which probably isn’t a good sign):

“Due to a pending discussion with a contracted artist Westfest is unable to confirm any decision made about the festivals continuation in 2016.

However – as there [sic] is only one band left standing; Westfest is automatically processing 100% refunds for all ticket holders.

Updates to follow.”

As SBS reports, other acts due to play the now defunct Soundwave festival had also booked follow-up gigs in Auckland, which have now been scrapped as well.

Disturbed, for instance, were due to play the city’s Vector Arena on January 28th, and the gig could be cancelled altogether if a rescheduled date can’t be agreed upon.

While British rockers Bring Me The Horizon called off their January 21st show, citing the Aussie music festival’s cancellation as the cause.

It follows the recent cancellation of another NZ festival, Echofest, due to poor ticket sales.

Read the full statement from WestFest organisers, below.