Soundwave's cancellation could affect another Kiwi music festival

Deftones were one of the bands on the line-up for the now cancelled Australian festival, Soundwave.

The cancellation of a long-running festival in Australia could affect another local music festival, continuing New Zealand's summer of musical chaos.

Soundwave has been axed with organiser AJ Maddah blaming the "internet hate squad" and trolls for forcing him to cancel the series of hard rock festivals.

It's the latest in a series of Australasian music festivals to be axed, including October's R&B and hip-hop festival Soulfest, which had dates in both Australia and New Zealand, and Echo Festival, which had been scheduled for Auckland in January.

Maddah announced on Twitter that the three Soundwave festivals were off, although it would not have come as a complete shock given ticket sales had been slow.

I am devastated to have to announce the cancellation of Soundwave 16 due to poor ticket sales. I am very sorry. I tried my best. #SW16

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) December 17, 2015

Thank you to all the fans, bands and people who supported the event for the last 12 years. i wish we could have ended it on a better note.

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) December 17, 2015

Great triumph for the internet hate squad and the trolls. Congratulations guys. Only thing is, you are now fast running out of targets.

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) December 17, 2015

The cancellation could affect Soundwave spin-off show Westfest, which is headlined by Refused and NOFX, and a solo headlining show by Disturbed on January 28 in Auckland.

On Facebook, Westfest said it was "waiting to hear from bands" to see if its January 30 show at Kumeu showgrounds would go ahead.

Promoters have been contacted for further comment.

The writing was on the wall for Soundwave early on Thursday when US rockers L7 confirmed they wouldn't be heading to Australia for the popular music event.

The band announced on Facebook they pulled out of the premier hard rock festival "due to circumstances beyond our control".

"Believe us when we say that we are as disappointed as you are," L7 posted on Facebook.

Other headliners included Public Enemy, Prodigy, Bullet For My Valentine and Deftones.

Despite Maddah announcing refunds would be available from point of purchase, confused and frustrated fans were getting the opposite message from ticket seller Eventopia - the same company involved in disputes over Echo Festival refunds in New Zealand.

A number of concerned Soundwave fans tweeted Maddah, who goes by the handle @iamnotshouting, to say they had been directed by Eventopia to claim refunds from the organiser.

They posted email correspondence they had received from Eventopia.

In part it read, "Customers should contact the Promoter of the Festival to directly request their ticket refund in full...".

Maddah tweeted, "is this (sic) joke?"

SEVEN HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR CORPORATION trying to get out of refunding fans and heaping it on broke promoter via dirt tactics. #LifeIsGrand

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) December 17, 2015

One irate fan, Katey Taylor made her feelings known to Eventopia:

"@eventopia by law YOU NEED TO REFUND US ITS LAW. Not @iamnotshouting or @soundwavefest".

Maddah tweeted that after 12 years organising the festival he hopes someone else picks up the pieces in time for 2017.

"I am flat broke and physically and spiritually crushed," he tweeted.

"Hopefully others will pick it up & run with it."

- AAP