Another Australian music festival bite the dust, as the highly anticipated Souled Out 2025 has been abruptly cancelled just one week before its scheduled start. R&B fans across Australia were eagerly awaiting the festival's return, set to feature major artists and draw thousands of attendees. Unfortunately, festival organizers announced on Thursday their decision to pull the plug due to insufficient ticket sales and financial viability concerns.
“It is with a heavy heart we must announce Souled Out will not be going ahead this year,” the festival team stated, expressing their deep disappointment. “This was an incredibly difficult decision, and we share in your disappointment. Despite our best efforts, the event did not reach the level of support needed to remain financially viable.” It appears the economic challenges faced by many events have struck again, prompting the cancellation.
The festival was gearing up for what was expected to be its biggest lineup yet, with hip-hop star Don Toliver and R&B sensation Jhené Aiko set to headline. Other notable acts included Vince Staples, Mariah The Scientist, 6LACK, and DJ talents such as Jarreau Vandal and Rosey Gold. Souled Out 2025 was only meant to take place across three cities—Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane—on dates from February 22 to 28. This year was supposed to mark the second installment of the festival, following last year's successful run.
Last year, the inaugural Souled Out saw 75,000 tickets sold over multiple locations, making it clear there was a craving for modern R&B experiences down under. Yet, as the festival's co-founder Emal Naim highlighted upon its announcement, the excitement seems to have waned. Commenting on the previous year's success, Naim had stated, “We’re here to stay, and we can’t wait to keep feeding this vibrant community of R&B fans.” Unfortunately, sustaining such ambition proved to be challenging as ticket sales failed to meet expectations for 2025.
All ticket holders for the now-cancelled event will receive automatic refunds via Oztix, and organizers have urged patrons to reinvest those funds back pinto supporting the live music scene. “We encourage you to use these funds to continue supporting live music and festivals across Australia. Your passion and commitment help keep the culture alive,” the Souled Out team implored. The organizers also acknowledged the struggles prevalent within the industry, noting the widespread obstacles festivals face, particularly concerning rising costs and declining ticket sales.
The cancellation of Souled Out 2025 falls within the broader trend of music festivals struggling against economic constraints. Recently, other notable festivals like Splendour in the Grass and Groovin the Moo have also announced they would not be proceeding with their events, adding to concerns about the sustainability of Australia's vibrant festival culture.
But not all hope seems lost for festival lovers. Chris O’Brien from Good Things Festival has expressed confidence about the future of the punk, rock, and metal event, promising it will continue later this year. He remarked, “Programming festivals is incredibly difficult as so many of our costs have skyrocketed over the past two to three years.” O’Brien reassured fans about the improved market conditions they have managed by delivering quality lineups and unique experiences.
While the cancellation of Souled Out 2025 is undoubtedly disheartening for fans who were excited to celebrate their favorite artists and enjoy the festival atmosphere, it serves as another reminder of the fragile state of the live music industry. Organizers have shared extensive gratitude for patrons, stating, “The love and energy you’ve brought to Souled Out over the years have meant the world to us, and we are deeply grateful for your support.”
The concert fans are encouraged to rally behind future ventures, hoping for the culture of live music to flourish once again across the festival scene. Whether through enlisting new festivals or supporting the return of cherished events like Souled Out, there’s still room for resilience and growth as we look forward to brighter days for Australia’s musical celebrations.