Fans 'gutted' by The Winery Tour's surprise cancellation

Betty-Anne Monga, Hollie Smith, Che Fu, Annie Crummer and Jason Kerrison were supposed to play The Winery Tour 2018. Photo / Steve Dykes

Music fans have expressed shock and dismay at the surprise cancellation of next year's popular boutique festival, The Winery Tour.

"(I'm) really disappointed," wrote one fan on Facebook after the event's demise was announced. "Gutted," wrote another.

Organisers cancelled the 10-date festival, featuring performances by Tami Neilson, Annie Crummer, Che Fu, Jason Kerrison, Betty-Anne Monga (Ardijah) and Hollie Smith, with a press release late yesterday afternoon.

But promoters didn't say why it was cancelled - and why the dates couldn't be rescheduled.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances The Winery Tour regrets to announce the cancellation of the 2018 Winery Tour," it said.

"As it is not possible to reschedule the tour, full ticket refunds will be available for all shows from the point of purchase and will be processed immediately."

Promoters told the Herald there was "nothing further to add" and turned down a request for an interview.

The festival was in its 11th year and has become one of New Zealand's most popular summer tours. This year's event included Benny Tipene, Boh Runga and Brooke Fraser.

For next year, organisers had planned to mix things up with a "Songbook" format featuring artists performing their own songs and covers together using the same band.

The announcement read: "The kiwi music legends will present their takes on their all time favourite songs - songs that have influenced them, by the artists that inspired them. Featuring the music of Prince, David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Blondie, the Eagles, Tina Turner and many more, Songbook - Together in Concer' is destined to be the ultimate Winery Tour showstopper."

Fans quickly took to Facebook to express dismay at the festival's surprise cancellation.

"Thought it was too good to be true in NZ. A chilled out concert of great artists in a park - gutted," wrote one.

"How does that happen? A whole show!??" wrote another.

The first show of the tour, in Nelson's Upper Moutere Neudorf Vineyards, would have been the festival's 150th show.

The tour was to have shows at Days Bay in Eastbourne, Ascension Wine Estate in Matakana, Kainui Road Vineyard in Kerikeri, Black Barn Vineyards in Havelock North, Villa Maria Estate Winery in Mangere, Vilagrad Vineyard at Ohaupo and Wharepai Domain in Tauranga.

Promtoers said full refunds were available to ticketholders.