Confirmed: Stereosonic festival cancelled

Just over three months following the death of two patrons during Stereosonic’s 2015 run, and just over two months since the bankruptcy of its parent company, Promoter Totem Onelove Group have cancelled the 2016 run of the festival.

Announced overnight by The Daily Telegraph, the publication reports the festival has been axed permanently.

A spokesman for the event has said Stereosonic will return in 2017, and a post confirming the fact was made on Facebook today.

However, the festival’s Melbourne office is up for lease on realcommercial.com.au, and while this could be due to its organisers relocating, the axing of fellow flagship festivals Big Day Out, Future Music and Soundwave are fresh in music fans’ minds, fuelling rumours that Stereosonic’s future hangs in the air.

Ex-Soundwave promoter AJ Maddah took to Twitter last night:

Sad to hear about the demise of Stereosonic. Couldn’t stand the music but pomoters are very good people who did their best.

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) April 6, 2016

The news follows the deaths of 19-year-old Stefan Woodward, who died from a suspected drug overdose at Stereosonic Adelaide, and 25-year-old Sylvia Choi, a qualified pharmacist from Oyster Bay, who died of a drug overdose at Sydney Stereosonic. At the same event in Sydney, a 22-year old woman, apparently a British tourist, was put in an induced coma at Westmead Hospital. Nine others were hospitalised. 69 patrons were charged with drug supply and possession while another 23 were given cannabis cautions.

Following the deaths Totem OneLove came forward in support of a pilot program for pill-testing. “We would strongly support any policies or initiatives that would minimise harm, reduce drug use and make events a safer environment for patrons,” the Group said last month. “Unfortunately drug use is an issue effecting all Australians and is not limited to events.”

Rumours are also swilling that Stereosonic has been axed due to financial strain. Totem OneLove is owned by troubled global EDM concert producer SFX Entertainment. In late JanuarySFX filed for chapter 11 bankruptcytoremove more than US$300 million from its outstanding debt and to take the company private. Its founder Robert FXSillerman stepped down from his role as CEO last week and was replaced on an interim basis by the firm’s chief restructuring officer Michael Katzenstein.

At the time of SFX’s bankruptcy announcement, Totem OneLove released a statement to note it would not affect its local operations.

“Totem Onelove will continue to operate as normal. We are cash-flow positive, can and will pay business expenses and remain committed to planning for, preparing, and producing the festival and events we are known for.”

TMN has reached out to Totem OneLove for comment.