THE easing of COVID-19 restrictions might be slowly reviving the music industry, but it hasn't been enough to save the ill-fated Under The Southern Stars Tour.
The 11-date tour, which was due to begin in Wollongong on April 30, has been postponed for a second time.
US grunge band Stone Temple Pilots, UK alt-rockers Bush and US glam metal legends Cheap Trick were due to headline the tour, alongside Australian acts Rose Tattoo and Electric Mary, in April 2020. US post-grunge legends Live were also initially part of the line-up, but withdrew after the first postponement.
Under the original plan proposed by Under The Southern Stars promoter Andrew McManus the foreign bands - Cheap Trick, Stone Temple Pilots and Bush - and essential tour staff would undergo COVID-19 tests prior to leaving their home countries and again on arrival in Australia.
They would then serve two weeks in quarantine in a studio preparing for the tour, which was due to visit Newcastle, Gosford, Sydney, Adelaide, Mornington Peninsula, Yarrawonga, Melbourne, Caloundra, Gold Coast and Brisbane from May 1 to 16.
We ask you all to continue to believe in us.
Andrew McManus
McManus said after the cancellation of Byron Bay's Bluesfest by the NSW Government mere days before the festival began, there was too much uncertainty whether the concerts could proceed and the safety of patrons, artists and road crew was paramount.
"We ask you all to continue to believe in us," McManus said in a statement. "We must protect our artists and patrons.
"We get it. How many times can the Australian system force another postponement? So we are making the hard decision to reschedule Under The Southern Stars to the first quarter of 2022 and ask that all our valued supporters hold on to their tickets and in return we will be announcing some truly exciting additions to the line-up and festival circuit."
