Rockstar's Fury as Last-Minute Cancellation Sparks Chaos
The frontwoman of Australian pub rock band Amyl and the Sniffers, Amy Taylor, has admitted she was left 'fuming' and 'shattered' after the group's highly anticipated free concert in Melbourne was abruptly cancelled over major safety concerns. The incident occurred on Friday night at Federation Square, where thousands of fans had gathered to see the band, who are currently supporting rock legends AC/DC on their world tour.
In a dramatic turn of events, the plug was pulled on the show just eight minutes before the band were due to take the stage. The decision was made by authorities after perimeter fences were breached by the overwhelming crowd, creating what was deemed a 'very high risk of crowd crushes'.
Social Media Outburst and Safety Concerns
Amy Taylor took to social media immediately after the cancellation to vent her frustrations and apologise to disappointed fans. 'At Fed Square and fuming – ready to go,' she began in one post, accompanied by a picture of her feet backstage. She explained that the event was cancelled 'due to the event not organising the proper security and barriers', and because the barriers had been broken, making the situation unsafe.
In a subsequent video, a visibly upset Taylor elaborated: 'So so so sorry. We are backstage and literally would have loved to play. We are devastated. The fences got crushed in. Too many people. The cops shut it down.' She emphasised that while the band were heartbroken, patron safety was paramount, especially given the all-ages nature of the event.
Taylor didn't hold back on her personal feelings, later adding: 'You simply cannot imagine the tantrum I'm having,' and signing off with, 'Gonna go get blackout drunk somewhere in mourning.'
A Silver Lining: £12,500 Bar Tab for Fans
In a generous move to appease disappointed supporters, the band announced they would be using their performance fee to buy drinks for fans across the city. Amy Taylor shared in a video with her bandmates – drummer Bryce Wilson, guitarist Declan Mehrtens, and bassist Gus Romer – that they felt 'genuinely bad from the gut' about the cancellation.
She revealed: 'There's a $5,000 (£2,500) tab at each of those venues, so have a drink on us.' This meant the band put down a total of £12,500 for their fans at seven different Melbourne venues, turning a night of disappointment into an impromptu city-wide celebration.
Federation Square officials released a formal statement confirming the cancellation was due to 'multiple breaches of the perimeter fences' which created an unacceptable safety risk. 'We did not take this decision lightly,' the statement read, 'and are deeply sorry for any disappointment caused, however tonight simply could not continue.'
Reports from the scene described chaotic scenes as latecomers, finding the venue at capacity, began kicking and attempting to break through the fences. Some individuals were also seen fighting with security guards after sneaking past barriers. This is not the first time Federation Square has seen such a massive turnout for a surprise free gig; earlier in March, an estimated 10,000 people raced to the square for a last-minute performance by Kneecap.
Formed in 2016, Amyl and the Sniffers have risen to prominence with their self-titled debut album in 2019. They have since released two more albums, earned nine ARIA Award nominations, and opened for major acts like Foo Fighters and Green Day. This year, their growing international profile was further cemented with a nomination for International Group of the Year at the Brit Awards.
