Blue concert cancellation: Ticketholders struggle for refunds as promoter remains unresponsive

Ticket holders for the Blue concert, which was scheduled to take place in October, have been left confused and frustrated as they attempt to obtain refunds for the cancelled event.​

Since IOL reported on the cancellation of the concert,  ticketholders reached out and shared their experiences in trying to get answers from the organiser, Top Tickets, and Wynand de Villiers.​

Last week, the United Kingdom band announced on their Instagram Stories that they would no longer be travelling to South Africa.

​“Unfortunately, the promoter that booked us to perform is in breach of contract, and because of that breach, we are unable to travel and perform.”​

The band was meant to perform on October 14, 2025, at SunBet Arena in Pretoria and on October 15, 2025, at the Grand Arena in Cape Town.

​On Sun International’s website, the Blue 20th Anniversary Tour in South Africa concert is listed as cancelled, with low ticket sales being cited as the reason.​

Sun International, on their notice, wrote that for ticket refunds, contact support@toptickets.co.za, but ticketholders have made contact with no avail. TopTickets on their website, terms and conditions, say that refunds are only issued if an event is cancelled by the organiser.

​TopTickets has not responded to calls or emails from IOL. A ticketholder told our publication that from the time the show was cancelled till now, they have been given the run around and are impossible to contact to get our refunds.

​A separate ticket holder told IOL that they were not aware that the concert had been cancelled until they came across the Instagram Story post by Blue, and there was no communication from Top Tickets regarding this cancellation, and they were not replying to any emails.​

The ticket holder explained that originally, when they booked the tickets, it was through iTickets. Then, in January of this year, they were suddenly informed that Top Tickets had taken over the management of the event.

iTickets explained to IOL that ticketholders were officially informed on February 4, 2025, that the event management and ticketing had transitioned to Top Tickets as per the promoter's request.​

When iTickets heard through social media that the Blue concert had been postponed from March to October, they immediately notified all affected ticket holders. ​

“As per a Western Cape High Court order dated June 17, 2025, relating to all Cool Concerts events, all refund requests must be directed to Top Tickets. iTickets is not authorised to process refunds outside of this order,” they noted.​

De Villiers, earlier this month, had revealed drama behind the Theuns Jordaan Tribute Concert in Amsterdam between him, the promoter and some of the artists.

​Hitting back at some of the accusations leveled against him by the promoter, musician Kurt Darren revealed that a respected sound company currently has legal action pending against de Villiers for outstanding payments.​

“Instead of addressing the core issue, money owed for work already completed, he attempted to distract the public by framing it as a personal vendetta linked to unrelated artists.

​“This kind of narrative-twisting is a textbook tactic of deflection and manipulation, designed to cloud facts and garner sympathy.”

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