Live music promoters TEG Group and British band New Order are facing criticism after announcing they will proceed with a scheduled concert in Brisbane, despite the city experiencing major flooding following ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The concert, part of New Order’s Australian tour, is set to take place at Riverstage, an outdoor venue located on Brisbane River within the Botanic Gardens.
TEG Live announced on Monday that the concert would go ahead, but the decision has garnered negative feedback from ticket-holders who are unhappy with the decision, considering the flood situation in the city. Many commenters expressed concerns about road closures, ongoing clean-up efforts, and questioned the safety of hosting the event on waterlogged grounds. Some suggested offering refunds to those unable to attend.
On Tuesday afternoon, despite rainfall easing and floodwaters receding, over 100,000 homes and businesses remained without power, and public transportation services were still limited in Brisbane. Many roads in and around the city remained closed due to the flooding. Critics argued that it is insensitive to hold the concert just a day after the heavy rains caused devastation. TEG Live confirmed that the concert will proceed and claimed that Brisbane City Council stated the venue’s grounds were “fine to proceed”. The council declined to provide specific details, suggesting that inquiries should be directed to TEG Live or the ticket provider, Ticketek.
The Translink website advises that while some public transportation services have resumed, there are ongoing disruptions and cancellations, and real-time information may not be accurate. Ticketek also provides a portal for refund requests. Other events have been impacted by the cyclone, such as a Green Day concert that was cancelled and an Alexisonfire show that was rescheduled.
Clean-up efforts continue in south-east Queensland, where around 120,000 properties lack power, and people are just beginning to return to assess the damage. Intermittent showers are expected in Brisbane tonight as the city recovers from the effects of the cyclone.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/11/tropical-cyclone-alfred-floods-new-order-brisbane-ntwnfb
