Australian band Amyl and the Sniffers turned a last-minute cancellation of their free concert in Melbourne into a lively and funded bar crawl, offering fans an unexpected night out. The concert, scheduled for November 14, 2023, at Federation Square, was abruptly called off due to safety concerns regarding overcrowding and breaches of perimeter fencing, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The decision to cancel the performance was made by Katrina Sedgwick, chief executive of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation. She explained that “Fed Square was forced to cancel Amyl and The Sniffers’ show after multiple breaches of the perimeter fences caused a very high risk of crowd crushes.” Sedgwick emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly, given the large number of fans who had gathered to see the band, who are currently opening for AC/DC on their world tour.
Following the cancellation, the band quickly reached out to their fans on social media to ensure the night would still be memorable. They proposed an alternative: a bar crawl funded by a generous tab of $35,000 across several local pubs. In a passionate Instagram video, frontwoman Amy Taylor expressed her regret, stating, “We’re so f–king sorry that we couldn’t play… It sucks to not be able to play in our hometown for free. Have a drink on us, in an AC/DC fashion. Just have some fun tonight.”
The participating venues included popular local spots such as The Tote, The Curtin, The Old Bar, Labour in Vain, Hell’s Kitchen, Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar, and Cherry Bar. Each pub received $5,000 from the band, leading to packed rooms and long lines as fans flocked to enjoy the unexpected celebration. Reports indicated that the generous bar tab ran dry within hours of the announcement, turning the night into a spontaneous party for the eager crowd.
This event comes during a remarkable year for Amyl and the Sniffers, whose album, Cartoon Darkness, reached number two on Australia’s ARIA Albums Chart and made its way into the UK top ten. The band has also recently performed to a sold-out audience at London’s Alexandra Palace, which has a capacity of 10,000. In addition, they are nominated for a Grammy in the Best Rock Performance category for their song, “U Should Not Be Doing That.”
As the excitement from the bar crawl spreads, fans and the local community are left with a memorable experience, showcasing the band’s commitment to their supporters even in the face of unforeseen challenges.
