The punk trio have since issued a blunt warning to Australian live music fans: buy pre-sale tickets or risk losing gigs, festivals, and venues altogether.

The punk trio took to Instagram to reveal they’d been advised to cancel their upcoming show in Castlemaine due to low ticket pre-sales. They band also suggested they may also have to potentially scrap more dates on their regional run. While they’ve since decided to push ahead, the band made one thing abundantly clear: the model is not sustainable.

“Unfortunately, the post-COVID mentality of people walking up and buying tickets on the night means putting on shows has now become basically gambling for many promoters and artists such as ourselves,” the band said.

Their statement comes as Australia’s live music scene seemingly takes hit after hit. Major festivals like Splendour in the Grass and Groovin the Moo have pulled the pin on 2025 events. While Melbourne’s Gasometer Hotel is set to shut its doors next month. Rising costs, rent spikes, and dwindling government support have left venues and promoters in survival mode.

DZ Deathrays aren’t the first band to raise the alarm, but their message is clear: without pre-sales, gigs won’t happen. The band pointed out they price pre-sale tickets lower for a reason, urging fans to get in early if they want to keep the scene alive.

“We’ve never cancelled a gig due to this before. Unfortunately, this is the situation we now face,” the trio added. “If you are planning to come to our shows or any Aussie acts, please buy the pre-sales. Or the trend of losing your favourite pubs, festivals, and tours will continue.”

For a band that’s spent over a decade shredding through Australia’s live circuit, the warning is a reality check. If fans want the music to keep coming, the support needs to come first.