Tour news: Soulfest confirms shock cancellation

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JULY 05: Recording artist Mary J. Blige performs onstage at the 2015 Essence Music Festival on July 5, 2015 at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Gr

A major Auckland music festival starring Lauryn Hill, Mary J Blige and De La Soul has been axed because of low ticket sales.

"It is with a heavy heart and great regret that SoulFest International Australia advises that it has become necessary to cancel SoulFest 2015 and the subsequent sideshows, due to low ticket sales in Australia and New Zealand," a press release issued this morning said.

The festival was due to be held at Western Springs on Labour Day, October 26, with a line-up of heavy hitting R&B and hip-hop stars including Jill Scott, Miguel, Jhené Aiko and Charlie Wilson.

Two events in Australia, Melbourne on October 24 and Sydney on October 25, are also being axed.

The festival started in 2014 and saw around 9000 people enjoy headliners D'Angelo, Common, Maxwell and Angie Stone at Western Springs.

Promoters risked a "devastating" shortfall if the event were to go ahead, the statement said.

"Despite a stellar line-up of artists and the best promotional endeavours on SoulFest's behalf, the event has simply not received the support via ticket sales, and the financial loss that would be incurred by the event if it were to go ahead as planned would be devastating.

"There have been many people working behind the scenes, including media partners, artists, sponsors, sub-contracted promoters, communication managers, agents and suppliers who live, breathe and support this incredible genre of music and have worked tirelessly to try and make this event a success.

"The promoter of SoulFest International Australia, John Denison, sincerely apologizes to all involved who have dedicated 7 months of their lives to work on this festival,
and to the supporters of the event who purchased tickets."

Fans lamented the festival's demise on Twitter:

#Soulfest you broke my heart. Dont ever talk to me again about having your little festival here. NZ fans are more die hard than Oz fans? wtf

— AZOR AHAI (@Fayzeeee) October 13, 2015

Sad to hear #Soulfest has been cancelled. Was so looking forward to it. What a great line up that never was

— Hasa (@Hasa81) October 13, 2015

I'm legit crying at soulfest getting cancelled

— ma (@maramavea) October 13, 2015

Ticket deals had been offered on GrabOne this week, discounting them down to $130.

Soulfest was set to kick off a major summer of music festivals, including Raggamuffin, Splore, Laneway, Auckland City Limits, Bay Dreams, Womad, McLaren Valley, Rhythm & Vines, Rhythm & Alps, Wanderlust and Northern Bass.

A host of Kiwi heavyweights have also confirmed summer tours, including Six60, Shapeshifter and Fat Freddy's Drop.

Full refunds are available to all ticket purchasers.

- nzherald.co.nz