So, we hate to be the bearer of bad news, but... Listen Out won’t be happening in 2025.
Yes, the team behind the festival officially announced they’re hitting pause for the year, saying the last few years have been pretty tough. It’s definitely a bit of a bummer – Listen Out has been a huge part of the Aussie festival scene for over a decade. Last year’s lineup had some big names like 21 Savage, Skepta, Tyla, Flo Milli, and John Summit, and the festival had just started letting 16+ audiences in, which was a big shift. It felt like they were gaining momentum again after everything the live music industry’s been through.
That said, they’re not disappearing – just switching gears. And who knows? We’ve already seen other festivals like Spilt Milk take similar approaches, and they still managed to pull some amazing shows – and make some great comebacks onto the scene the following year as a fully-fledged festival.
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Why is Listen Out cancelled?
Music festivals across Australia have been dropping like flies. Mostly, they're being cancelled due to a combination of financial pressures, changing consumer behaviours, and environmental challenges.
Rising production costs, including insurance and security, coupled with declining ticket sales – partly driven by the cost-of-living crisis – have made many events like this financially unviable. And additionally, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and storms, has led to disruptions and heightened uncertainty, prompting potential attendees to delay ticket purchases, which has further impactd festival planning and sustainability.
What are they doing instead?
Instead of the usual big tour, they’re switching things up and launching something new called Listen Out Presents — a series of one-off, curated parties across Australia throughout the year. It sounds like these events will still have some incredible lineups, with the team promising “some of the best artists in the world” playing at unique locations. Details are pretty limited right now, but they’re planning to drop more info later today, on Tuesday 8 July 2025, so definitely keep an eye on their socials.
Yes, it’s sad to see another major festival take a break, especially after Groovin the Moo and Splendour in the Grass also stepped back recently. But hopefully Listen Out Presents will bring some good vibes and great music to fill the gap this year.
