Zara Nicholson

ORGANISERS of one of the city’s biggest concerts, featuring international electro DJ Paul van Dyk, have been forced to reimburse hundreds of fans who blasted the staging of the event, calling it a “dismal” experience.

Paul van Dyk was supported by more than 40 DJs at the Gatecrashers Summer Music Festival, which attracted 2 500 people. Fans who attended the festival at the Durbanville Ostrich Ranch Farm over the weekend lodged scathing attacks on the organisers via social networking sites.

Events company Soundscape initially denied the complaints, saying that they were “fictitious”.

However, Mark Abrahams, Soundscape director, later issued a public apology to patrons saying it was clear that fans were dissatisfied and felt cheated.

“With the little time we had to put the event together, as well as a venue change from D’Aria Wine Estate to the Cape Town Ostrich Ranch to accommodate more fans, many details and steps were overlooked.

“This led to a great deal of disappointment and frustration, in particular with regard to the main stage visuals and sound, the duration of the event as well as VIP areas,” Abrahams said.

Partygoers complained about a lack of toilets, insufficient parking space, bars which closed early and poor sound and visuals, among other things.

Si Maclennan, who attended the concert, described the event as a “colossal mess-up”. Maclennan, who paid R250 for a VIP ticket through City Mob, said he and many others were demanding their money back as they did not get the VIP experience advertised.

Soundscape has decided to refund patrons 50 percent of the ticket fee. City Mob has, however, offered a full refund.

Abrahams said in terms of bars closing early, their liquor licences had stipulated that they could operate only until 2am.

zara.nicholson@inl.co.za