At the eleventh hour the organizers of the Future Music Festival Asia 2015 (FMFA) have been forced to cancel the event for 13-14 March after failing to obtain the license needed from the Singapore’s Ministry Of Home Affairs
The official statement from the organizers (Livescape Singapore and Future Music Group Australia) came on Sunday 8 March. The cross-genre music festival that originates from Australia was set to feature its biggest line- up to date. Sweden’ electronic dance music super artists Avicii was headlining the festival aside The Prodigy and disco legend Giorgio Moroder
A total of 49 musicians were set to perform, bringing international and regional electronic, dance and indie rock talents together into the festival.
FMFA, an annual event, had moved to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where it was held the previous year. With the cancellation a future FMFA in Singapore is now highly unlikely as the organisers will likely face huge losses with the last minute cancellation.
“Full ticket refunds will now be made to all FMFA ticket buyers, details of which will be made available by Monday evening. We are also aware of the many fans overseas that have made travel arrangements into Singapore for the festival. We are extremely sorry for the inconvenience you’ve been put through,” wrote the organisers in a statement.
“At the moment, we have also set up a care team to help answer your concerns directly. Our care team can be reached at [email protected]. FMFA wishes to thank all artistes and event suppliers for their incredibly hard work and support during the last few days. To the fans, we thank you for your patience and support. Refund details will be made known at a later date.”
For fans of the Swedish sensation Avicii this is yet another blow as it was to be the only show this time around in Asia after another concert in Jakarta had also been cancelled.
According to local media reports in Singapore the organizers, who had sold about 15,000 of the 20,000 tickets available for the two-day festival, previously submitted applications for a public entertainment license to the police in January and last month. Both were rejected, with the Police citing “serious concerns” over potential drug abuse at the event.
They organizers then appealed to Minister for Home Affairs but, but this was also rejected.
The festival, which had a three-year run in Kuala Lumpur, had been marred by drug problems. Concert organisers had to cancel the event on its third day last year after six Malaysians died of drug overdose and another 16 people were hospitalized for drug-related conditions.
Future Music Festival was first held in 2006 in Sydney, Australia, and was branching out to Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth in 2007. And since 2012, the festival has also regularly visited Malaysia before coming to Singapore this year.
