Rewind Festival under investigation

14 October 2011

by Poppy Reid

After news the ‘80s revival festival, Rewind would be relocating from Wollongong to Sydney, punters close to the previous venue sparked an investigation from the Department of Fair Trading.

According to the Illawarra Mercury ticket holders voiced their tempers on the festival’s Facebook page about the move from Kembla Grange, the downsizing from three days to two and the announcement four of the headliners won’t be featured.

One Facebook comment read:

“80's Rewind Festival should be careful who they allow to use their branding elsewhere in the world. Many unhappy Australians, who have purchased a 3 day outdoor festival ticket to Rewind Festival Australia to have the line up continually change, international acts "supposedly" cancel at the last minute and then have the venue changed to a 2 day indoor event, 2 weeks before the advertised event.......not cool ! We have also lost $600AUD for cancelling hotel accommodation booked with a no cancellation policy.”

Festival organiser Shane Sanderson has argued via facebbok that the move to indoor venue Hordern Pavilion was due to weather conditions and the majority of ticket sales coming from Sydney; but with Hordern’s capacity for 5,500 as opposed to Kembla Grange’s approximate 15,000 capacity, Rewind’s reasoning doesn’t add up.

Kool and the Gang, The Human League, Sister Sledge and Candi Staton have been canned from the lineup with The Human League's manager, Simon Watson informing the Illawarra Mercury their “immigration permits weren't done.”

NSW Fair Trading spokeswoman told the newspaper:

"Consumers purchasing tickets for entertainment are protected by the consumer guarantees provided under the Australian Consumer Law.

"Fair Trading is currently looking into this matter and is making inquiries with the promoter of the Rewind Festival."