Big Day Out director AJ Maddah is baffled why Blur abruptly backed out of the festival when organisers have “kissed their ass.” On Sunday, the British rock band announced that they are cancelling their appearance, leaving the promoters confused and scrambling to find replacement.

The Grammy-nominated band announced on their Facebook page that they were “devastated” that they won’t be performing at the BDO 2014 festival anymore. They blamed the organisers their “shifting goals and challenging conditions.”

Blur was supposed to headline all six venues of the travelling music festival, from Auckland to Perth in January and February.

BDO organisers appeared to be taken aback by their announcement as well. They have been promoting Blur, along with co-headliners Pearl Jam and Arcade Fire, on their Facebook page until Sunday.

“We were disappointed to learn of Blur’s cancellation via their Facebook page yesterday morning,” a post on the festival’s own Facebook page reads. “We are working on replacements and will bring you new additions to the Big Day Out lineup shortly.”

Maddah, who has invested in BDO in September, was confused with the new development, explaining to his Twitter followers that they were blindsided by the band.

@thenatosummit Am trying to find out myself. Far as I know BDO gave into every demand within the possibility of curfews & public safety

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) November 24, 2013

According to Maddah’s tweets, Blur was given option to play a side gig, but the band declined. And when a follower speculated that perhaps the English group – consisting of vocalist Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James, and drummer Dave Rowntree – were breaking up, Maddah also agreed.

@normo94 @thenatosummit That's the feeling I get. Not sure why they would blame festival when all everyone here has done is kiss their ass.. — AJ (@iamnotshouting) November 24, 2013

Music industry sources think that Blur dropped out because of financial reasons.

“The only thing that would stop [a cancellation] is if it is more expensive to cancel it than to run it at a big loss due to non-refundable deposits on hire, facilities, bands, and equipment,” Fairfax Media quoted a source as saying.

With merely eight weeks to go before the festival kicks off in Auckland on January 17, organisers are now faced with the very challenging task of getting a suitable replacement. But if ticket holders are not satisfied with the name or names that they will produce, then they can get a refund.

BDO 2014 will be in Auckland on January 17, in Gold Coast on the 18th, Melbourne on the 24th, Sydney on the 26th, Adelaide on the 31st, and in Perth on February 2.

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