The sudden shutdown of US-based ticketing platform Lyte has left two major Australian music festivals in a state of uncertainty. Known for its ethical fan-to-fan ticket exchange, Lyte was the primary ticket vendor for Lost Paradise in NSW and Rabbits Eat Lettuce in Queensland. With their site down for "scheduled maintenance," festival goers like Callum Hendry-Hodsdon are understandably anxious about their plans.

"I got tickets as soon as they went on sale," said Callum, who tried to upgrade his passes only to find the website unresponsive. The situation is equally concerning for festival organizers. A statement from Lost Paradise acknowledged the lack of clarity following communication with Lyte's senior team.

Lyte, once a big player representing events like Coachella, now faces lawsuits alleging large-scale scalping operations. Promoters claim losses over $300,000 after Ant Taylor's resignation and staff layoffs at Lyte.

In Australia, Rabbits Eat Lettuce quickly switched to Humanitix but still faces financial setbacks estimated at $30,000 due to Lyte’s collapse. Director Erik Lamir expressed skepticism about recovering these funds but emphasized moving forward with an Australian provider.

As both festivals navigate this challenge, fans remain hopeful that live music will prevail amidst these disruptions.