Amyl and the Sniffers' Free Melbourne Concert Cancelled Amid Safety Concerns
Melbourne, Australia – A highly anticipated free concert by Australian rock band Amyl and the Sniffers at Federation Square was abruptly cancelled on Friday night due to safety concerns arising from overcrowding and breaches of security barriers.
Thousands of fans gathered at the venue for the all-ages show, which was scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM. However, just minutes before the band was set to perform, organizers announced the cancellation. Screens at the venue displayed a message stating: "Due to unexpected circumstances the event has been cancelled. Please leave the Square safely and follow the directions of venue staff." (au.rollingstone.com)
The Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation (MAP Co), which manages Federation Square, cited multiple breaches of perimeter fences that posed a high risk of crowd crushes. Katrina Sedgwick, MAP Co Director and CEO, stated, "It was unsafe for the audience, the staff and the band to continue with the show. We did not make the decision lightly and we are deeply, deeply sorry for any disappointment caused by this situation." (fedsquare.com)
Frontwoman Amy Taylor expressed her frustration on social media, saying, "We are so sorry the show is cancelled due to the event not organising the proper security and barriers and the barriers being broken in has made them deem it unsafe to play." She added, "We’re backstage, we would have loved to play. We’re devastated, the fucking fences got crushed in. Too many people. Fucking cops shut it down. Pissed as fuck. We’re just really apologetic and so sorry." (au.rollingstone.com)
In an effort to make amends, the band placed $5,000 bar tabs at several Melbourne venues, including The Curtin, The Tote, and Cherry Bar, inviting fans to "have a drink on us." Taylor remarked, "We did genuinely feel really bad, like from the gut, from everything. It sucks to not be able to play in our hometown for free… We just can’t have that. We don’t want anyone having a shit time… So we put, ‘Have a drink on us,’ in AC/DC fashion." (abc.net.au)
The cancellation has sparked discussions about event planning and crowd control measures at large public gatherings. Fans and organizers alike are reflecting on the balance between accessibility and safety in hosting free concerts in public spaces.