Downsizing, retrenchment or plain old shrinkage. Call it what you want, but since its birth on a Melbourne side street in 2005, Laneway has never experienced it. That changed one week ago when organisers confirmed the travelling Australasian festival would shrink from six to four shows in 2027, with legs in Adelaide and Perth axed.“Running so many shows, so close together, across so much ground is a logistical feat [that] asks a lot of our lineup and crew,” organisers explained. “Taking a pause allows us to focus on making the festival the best it can be, while freeing up time for more artists to bring headline shows to cities beyond our festival stops.”
A pile-on began almost instantly. “What a joke,” posted one under that statement. “This is awful,” said another. “You’re cancelling out on two cities who provided you with big crowds … such a disappointment,” said a third. (It’s true Adeleide has enjoyed sold out Laneways in the past, but a quick Google search points towards tougher conditions in Perth.) One commentator railed against the decision, calling Laneway organisers out for promoting an inclusive festival while cutting off two major cities. That comment has more “likes” than any of the others…
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