Following the cancellation of the co-headline Janelle Monáe and Kimbra Australian Tour, owing to the ill-health of the former Atlanta-based musician, this week promoters Live Nation have been contacting ticketholders of shows to the cancelled dates about refunds.

According to a few reports from unhappy ticketholders however, Live Nation are only offering a partial refund to those who’d purchased tickets to attend the opening date of the Golden Electric Tour at The Forum in Melbourne.

Ticketmaster has contacted Forum ticketholders today informing them that they are only eligible to a 50% refund in an email that reads: “Live Nation has advised that due to the inconvenience caused by the mid-show cancellation of the Janelle Monáe with Kimbra show which took place at the Forum Melbourne on Saturday 17 May 2014, a 50% refund of your total ticket value will be processed.” The refund will be “handled via an automatic credit card reimbursement.”

A number of punters have taken to the Facebook pages of Ticketmaster Australia and Live Nation Australia to complain about the 50% refund offer over the “mid-show cancellation.” Two ticketholders noted they were “absolutely disgusted” with the refund offer, while another notes “I didn’t pay $200+ just to see one third of a show.”

The justification for the 50% refund is likely owing to the fact that patrons – who had reportedly paid between $70 to $101.70 for tickets ahead of the show – still got to experience ‘half’ of the concert, with an opening 40 minute set from Kimbra opening The Forum concert before Janelle Monáe’s band arrived on stage minutes before her scheduled appearance to inform the crowd of the cancellation. “Live Nation has advised that due to the inconvenience caused by the mid-show cancellation … a 50% refund of your total ticket value will be processed.”

But that view disregards the press information promoting the show advertising three sets for the evening: a set from the New Zealand musician, another set from the The Electric Lady-hitmaker, and a final joint set with both Janelle Monáe and Kimbra and their bands performing together; or to quote the press release: “The Golden Electric Tour will reveal a stellar show of intertwined joint and individual performances – both artists will perform separate sets with their bands, as well as performing together.”

Monáe’s band originally told the disappointed Forum audience that, as compensation, they were invited to attend the second Melbourne performance at The Plenary – originally scheduled for tonight, before Monáe’s illness led to the cancellation of the entire tour last week.

Tone Deaf has contacted Live Nation about the refund situation but they could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.


Janelle Monáe’s band announcing the cancellation at The Forum (Photo: Len Panecki. Source: Kimbra @ The Forum Tone Deaf Gallery)

The opening – and now only – date of The Golden Electric tour in Melbourne saw Kimbra airing a handful of new songs from her forthcoming star-studded new album, The Golden Echo out in August (via Warner Bros), including her new single ’90s Music’ (which on record features Muse’s Matt Bellamy and Mark Foster of Foster The People).

Following the Forum cancellation, the Grammy-winning New Zealander wished her touring partner a swift recovery from her sudden illness, tweeting: “Let’s all lift up our thoughts & prayers for Janelle Monáe.” Sentiments the ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ singer re-iterated following the entire tour folding last week, taking to twitter once again to express her disappointment at the cancellation.

Janelle Monáe & Kimbra Australian Tour 2014

Saturday May 17 – The Forum, Melbourne
Monday May 19 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
Wednesday May 21 – Convention Centre, Brisbane
Monday May 26 – The Plenary, Melbourne

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