An LGBT+ music festival scheduled for early July in Porto has been cancelled, the organization said, ensuring it has contacted those with tickets “about the refund process”.
“It is with the greatest sadness that we have to announce that we have made the devastating decision to cancel the LGBT+ Music Festival,” read a statement released Monday on the festival’s official website and social media accounts.
The LGBT+ Music Festival scheduled for July 1st, 2nd and 3rd has been billed as a “feast of love and music” in Alfandega do Porto, but with “shows and experiences”. [que] outside the festival area.
“The festivals will be able to participate in the parties that take place in the pools, terraces and boats on the Douro River, in addition to iconic venues, among which Casa da Música and Hard Club stand out,” the statement released in February said.
Artist and band names announced included Iggy Azalea, Melanie C, Peaches, Ludmilla, Little Boots, Blaya, Favela Lacroix, Tiga, Snap! and Todrick Hall.
On June 1, also in a statement posted online, the organization guaranteed that the event would take place, albeit in a “different format”.
“We ran into several internal problems that made life difficult for our team. We worked 24 hours a day to make the festival happen, but due to the current circumstances, we decided that it would be held in a different format. “, he read if in the text shared at the time.
In a statement this Monday, the festival organization ensures it has contacted everyone who bought a ticket “about the refund process”, asking them to “check their email”. Also, email (hello@lgbtmusicfestival.com) is available for anyone with questions.
The festival, organized by the Apollon company, has a foreign company Galaxium Delirium as investors.
On June 3, in statements to Luce, lawyer Joana Cadete Pires, from the law firm representing Galaxium Delirium in Portugal, explained that “the organizational functions of the festival have been delegated to Portugal.”
According to the lawyer, “there were several factors” that forced the company to rethink the initiative, namely “internal problems”, which she refused to talk about, and “external problems” such as the number of tickets sold. below initial expectations.
Also, according to the lawyer, internal issues had “a lot of weight”, investors “came to the conclusion that the conditions were not met – logistics, confirmation of the artists.” “Obvious problems of poor organization,” he said.
Until May 13 this year, Apollo had Marco Azevedo as manager, who also told Luce on June 3 that he left the position because he felt he “couldn’t” do his job.
A man who worked with the festival from October last year to early May this year and wished to remain anonymous told Lusa that the Portuguese man who hired him “apparently jumped off a boat in mid-May.”
Apollon is also the promoter of Trace Made in Africa, an Afro-city, music, fashion, dance and art festival that takes place from Friday to Sunday in Alfandega do Porto.
The festival lineup includes C4 Pedro, SAuti Sol, Stonebwoy, Admiral T, Naza, NSG, Fally Ipupa, Kriol Kings and Fireboy DML, among others.
