Blur Cancel Big Day Out Appearance, Hit Out At Organisers

scheduled appearance at Australia & New Zealand’s Big Day Out has been cancelled - it would’ve been the band’s first appearance in Australia in 17 years.

Due to begin in Auckland on 17th January, the tour is scheduled to Gold Coast on 19th January, Melbourne on 24th January, Sydney 26th January, Adelaide 31st January and Perth on 2nd February.

‘Only 8 weeks to go, the band feels that with the constantly shifting goalposts and challenging conditions of the organisers, they can’t let it drag on any longer and want to make this announcement, to be clear to Blur fans that they won’t be there,’ reads a statement.

‘We’ve done our very best to work with the organisers and considered every option to make it happen, but they’ve let us down and let everyone else down too.’

Organisers were reportedly building Blur their own stage for the tour, but it’s believed that because the band couldn’t secure ‘sideshows’ around the events, financial reasons intervened and led to the cancellation. The band are yet to elaborate on the circumstances of them pulling out from BDO.

Remaining headliners Pearl Jam and Arcade Fire are still set to play the festival. Big Day Out CEO Adam Zammitt confirmed that the fest ‘will announce replacement very soon.’