Sydney/Eora hardcore band SPEED were due to perform an all-ages show at the Phoenix Youth Centre in Melbourne/Naarm today, but the Maribyrnong City Council cancelled the show.

As SPEED shared on social media on Thursday (24 July), their show was terminated with just two days’ notice. All ticketholders will be refunded while the band works to book another all-ages show in Melbourne.

The band claimed that they were “blindsided” by the local council cancelling their show, adding that they’d “tried everything to overturn their decision” to no avail.

“PHOENIX YC SHOW CANCELLED… disappointingly, the council has blindsided us by terminating this show with two days’ notice,” SPEED wrote on Instagram. “They will be refunding all ticket holders via email - please take up any issues with them as we have tried everything to overturn their decision with no avail.

“THERE ARE STILL TICKETS LEFT FOR OUR 170 RUSSELL THIS SUNDAY… we WILL book another all ages show in Melbourne soon. Our apologies to all the awesome young hardcore kids down there… keep going hard, and we will see you soon. SPEED.”

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In a statement, Maribyrnong City Council CEO, Celia Haddock, said the show was cancelled due to “a range of factors,” primarily citing “child safety.”

The statement also alleged that the show had received “increased attendee registrations” that required “additional risk mitigations” that couldn’t be organised in time for the event to take place.

“Due to a range of factors, Council made the difficult decision to cancel the BEASTMODE event with SPEED at Phoenix Youth Hub,” Haddock said.

“While we carefully considered the impact on ticket holders, performers, and stakeholders, the primary concern was child safety.”

The statement continued, “Ultimately, the event could not be delivered in a way that confidently and responsibly ensured the safety of attendees, especially those under 18 years, which led to the decision to cancel.

“Increased attendee registrations required additional risk mitigations that could not be addressed in line with required child safe standards in time for the event to proceed as scheduled.

“We are investigating alternative dates for a future performance once mitigations have been implemented to enable such events to be held in a safe and inclusive manner.”

SPEED’s last Australian tour of the year continues with an 18+ show in Melbourne tonight.

For the tour, they’ve been joined by special guests, Thai outfit Whispers and Newcastle hardcore band Feel The Pain. The extensive run has been booked as a “no barricade mosh pit” tour. After two more Melbourne shows, the groups head to Adelaide (AA) and Perth (for AA and 18+ shows).

SPEED honour the roots of hardcore while moving the sound forward, tackling subjects like marginalisation, critiques of the government, and finding love and loyalty through the Sydney hardcore punk scene.

Listening to them and watching them perform, it’s little wonder why they took home the ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album with their debut album, ONLY ONE MODE, last year.

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