Good Things Festival Pushes On After Last Minute Changes

If there is one constant in the world of festivals, it is that nothing ever goes exactly to plan. Schedules change, bands pull out, someone forgets their laminate and at least three people will argue in the comments section as if they are booking agents. This week, the alt community got hit twice with bad news. Parkwaves 2026 has been cancelled. Couple hours later, Good Things Festival faced its own curveball and it is a heavy one. Yes, I’m upset too. But I’m not gonna complain. Let me speak.

Just days before gates open, two major international acts, The All American Rejects and Knocked Loose, have withdrawn from the festival due to a sudden family loss. Their statements were heartfelt, raw and sincere. You could feel the weight behind every word. No one makes a call like that lightly, especially two bands that are known for showing up regardless of what chaos life throws at them.

“We’re heartbroken to share that due to a sudden family loss, we won’t be able to make it to Australia as planned. This has been an incredibly difficult moment for us, and as much as it devastates us to miss such a great opportunity to reconnect with our Australian fans, family has to come first. Thank you for your understanding, your patience, and all the love you continue to give this band. We’ll make it up to you as soon as we’re able.” - The All American Rejects

“We’re very sorry to everyone but we have to cancel our Australia trip, including the Good Things Festival and our headline shows around it. Anyone familiar with this band knows we do not take cancelling shows lightly; but family will always come first. We are already planning our return and cannot wait to be back as soon as possible. Love you all.” - Knocked Loose

Both bands reminded fans that family will always come first (as it should). In their shoes, any of us would make the same choice. It is a moment that asks for understanding, not outrage and a reminder that behind every band name on a poster is a real person with a real life outside of the stage.

With such limited time and the logistical nightmare that is festival routing, Good Things cannot rebuild the schedule from scratch. Production, trucking, flights and accommodation are already locked, so the timetable stays intact. Stepping into those slots are two Australian heavy hitters: Stand Atlantic and Alpha Wolf.

Are they the same as the original two acts? No. Of course not. They are not meant to be. But both bands know exactly how big these shoes are and they did not hesitate to acknowledge it. Stand Atlantic said it best. Honoured, nervous and ready. Alpha Wolf were just as upfront, showing their love for Knocked Loose and promising to give everything they have on short notice.

They know the pressure. They know the eyes on them. They know they are walking into a weekend that suddenly feels a lot heavier. But they are stepping up anyway. That deserves respect.

And this is the part where we, as a scene, need to take a breath. Festivals are expensive to run. Gigs are expensive to attend. Almost everything in this industry is operating on thinner margins than ever. We are in a time where live music, especially festivals, has become a luxury. That does not mean the magic is gone. It just means we have to adjust how we show up.

If fans want bigger names and more resilient line ups, the only true solution is supporting the smaller gigs as well. The local shows. The club nights. The bands grinding for petrol money to get the band practice. Growth in the scene starts at the bottom long before it reaches a festival mainstage. If one cancellation sends the internet into chaos, that is a sign that we as a community need to widen our attention, not narrow it.

Good Things Festival is still going ahead with a stacked line up. TOOL, Weezer, Garbage, Machine Head, Lorna Shore, Make Them Suffer, Refused and so many more are still walking out under the lights. There is no shortage of reasons to show up. The festival team has asked for understanding and they are right to. Moments like this show what a community actually looks like. Let’s show them just how strong the Australian heavy music community is!

This weekend, the show goes on. We come together. We make the best of what we have. We celebrate the bands who can be here, and we send love to the ones who cannot. We honour the grief sitting behind these decisions by not turning it into a spectacle.

Support the Aussie bands stepping up. Respect the privacy of the internationals who need time away. Keep the festival spirit alive without tearing each other down.

And most importantly, remember that the health of the scene starts long before the gates open at Good Things. It starts at the smaller gigs. It starts with the artists who might one day be on that poster. If we want a stronger festival culture, we have to build a stronger underground first.

Good Things Festival continues this weekend in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Tickets are still available at www.goodthingsfestival.com.au. See you in the pit.