Gig tickets: What are your rights if a concert gets postponed?

• By Jack Gray
• Newsbeat reporter

A wasted journey, hundreds of quid down the drain, and feeling more than a little gutted.

Your favorite artist or band having their gig called off is never ideal – especially when you’ve already made plans to see them.

It’s a feeling fans of Olivia Rodrigo, Peter Kay and others know all too well at the moment, after their performances at Manchester’s much-memed Co-Op live venue were postponed due to “technical issues”.

Singer Olivia’s told fans how “bummed” she is that her show’s not going ahead – but that doesn’t get punters their money back.

So what should you do if your favorite act is cancelled?

It’s probably something most of us skip or skim through – but it’s important to read the small print when you buy a ticket, says Harry Kind from consumer group Which?.

“You have the right to a refund for a ticket that you’ve bought directly from the venue, or from the artist, if it has been postponed,” he tells BBC Newsbeat.

Even if the gig is rescheduled, Harry says, you should still be clear to claim your money back.

“It’s a fantastic power that you have, and you don’t have to turn up to the new date if it’s not one that works for you.”

But refunds get a bit more tricky if you’ve bought your tickets from third-party sites.

“If you bought that ticket from a reseller, maybe from a company like Viagogo or StubHub, then your rights aren’t quite as set in stone,” says Harry.

“It’s going to depend on the terms and conditions.

“You might then be forced either to resell the ticket or to turn up to the new concert later in the year.”

If you’ve spent money on trains, travel and accommodation, what’re your options?

Harry thinks that, unfortunately, this is where you’re most likely to lose out.

“I’m afraid it’s really unlikely you’re going to be getting that money back,” he says.

“If you’ve bought a ticket that has the right to a refund, then that’s great – you should be claiming that.

“Same with a hotel, check if you’ve got that flexibility.

Even if you haven’t, maybe try reaching out to them and saying “this is the situation I’m in, can I just switch my booking for later in the year?”.

“But otherwise, it’s down to travel insurance.

“If you happen to have travel insurance, it might be worth making a claim on this to try and get that money back so that you can visit again later in the year.”

Has your booked gig been postponed? You can get in touch in the following ways:

Whether it’s illness or venue problems, “sadly, this comes up all the time,” says Harry.

So what are his tips to avoid being empty-handed if your fave artist breaks your heart?

“The safest way to buy a ticket will always be buying directly from the artist, from the venue, from the promoter,” says Harry.

“If you buy from a second-hand marketplace, your rights aren’t as strong.”

Harry thinks it might also be an idea to pay with your credit or debit card;

“Potentially – if you’re not getting the refund that you’re entitled to – if there has been some change, you could, for example, say ‘I want to make a claim’.

“It’s a bit of a process you’ve got to apply for it but it might be worth a try – and sometimes that will shift people along.”

Co-Op Live’s opening concerts have been called off due to safety concerns over a fault with its ventilation system.

The next shows due to take place at the £325m venue are a gig by indie band Keane on Sunday and five-night residency by 90s boy band Take That next week.

Venue sponsors the Co-operative Group said they were “shocked” by the cancellations and said it understood “the need to reassure fans about future shows”.

It apologized for any inconvenience but did not rule out further postponements.

The group said it was working with artists, promoters and managers to limit the impact on its schedule, and would try to give fans “sufficient notice” if further cancellations were necessary.

“Should shows be canceled or rescheduled, fans will be contacted by their point of purchase and offered a full refund where preferred,” they added.

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