NZ festival backtracks after stating: “Soundwave is in real financial trouble”

Organisers of two-year-old New Zealand festival Westfest, which features many acts from the Soundwave lineup, has swiftly recanted its comment that “Soundwave is in real financial trouble”.

The comment was made in a Facebook post, which FasterLouder managed to screen shot before it was removed.

Westfest swiftly posted the following to Facebook:

TMN has been in touch with Soundwave promoter AJ Maddah. TMN understands Westfest’s organisers at ODR Productions had contacted Soundwave to apologise.

FasterLouder reports Westfest is operating at a loss. Despite featuring Soundgarden, Faith No More and Judas Priest on its lineup this year, and Korn, Rob Zombie and Megadeth in 2014, it lost money on both festivals.

Regardless of whether Westfest reveals a weak lineup this evening or not, the comments follow a worrying application filed in August to cease Soundwave Pty Ltd’s operations. The application by World Stages sent Soundwave Pty Ltd (the former operating company of Soundwave) into voluntary administration in September following an unpaid debt.

However, in August AJ Maddah established both The Hounds of Hell Pty Ltd and HOH Holdings Pty Ltd operating names; he is the sole shareholder of the two companies. According to ABNcheck.com.au, Hounds Of Hell’s business name is Soundwave Touring, a change which was made on September 30.

Soundwave is set to unveil its full 2016 lineup tonight. Already announced acts include: Bring Me The Horizon, Refused, Bullet For My Valentine, Northlane, Dead Letter Circus, Hatebreed, Lordi, Devil You Know, Moose Blood, Metal Allegiance and Failure.