The festival “Kadetten” advertised with four international stars on the program. When the festival kicks off next week, none of them will be on stage.
Just updated
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– When we ordered tickets, there were four big, international artists we wanted to see, friends Magnus Lyngmo and Mohammad Payami (17) tell VG.
On the program for the Bærums festival were the popular names Stormzy, $ uicideboy $, Jack Harlow and Polo G.
In April, it became clear that Stormzy and $ uicideboy $ are not coming anyway. On Monday 20 June, Kadetten announced that Jack Harlow and Polo G will not be attending the festival either.
As a replacement, Cezinando and the rap group Undergrunn have been brought in.
– It feels like a hoax, says Lyngmo.
Goes anyway
The two 17-year-olds from Bodø have paid NOK 1,800 per festival pass to Kadetten. Now they feel that they have paid for something they do not get.
– Underground and Cezinando are good, but it is not quite on the same level. When I go to festivals I want to see bigger artists. It was $ uicideboy $ and Polo G was me the most hyped to see, says Lyngmo.
The friends will still go to the festival.
– We have booked hotels, flights and festival tickets, and paid for everything, Lyngmo explains.
– I have been looking forward to it for a long time. It will be awkward if there is nothing at all, says Payami.
–Want a refund
They think the festival will be a good experience anyway.
– But it will not be quite as expected.
In light of how popular the artists who were originally supposed to be at the festival are, the comrades think it should have been possible to get a better replacement, or make sure that part of the ticket price is refunded.
– The Norwegian artists who will play are cheaper than the original ones.
VG has been in contact with the press officer for the Cadet, Lars Tefre Baade. He says that even those who work with the festival get upset when artists they have booked are prevented from coming.
– When artists’ plans are changed at short notice, such program changes occur. This is not something we want, but something we must always prepare for. That is why we also always say that program changes can occur, Baade explains.
Wrong to put in context
This is not the first time that there have been problems with the bookings for Kadetten.
In 2019, originally rapper A $ AP Rocky was to play at the festival, but only had to cancel the day before, when he was arrested in Stockholm after a festival concert. A $ AP Rocky was supposed to replace Chance The Rapper, who canceled the festival a few weeks before.
This year, it is Stormzy, $ uicideboy $, Jack Harlow and Polo G who shine with their absence.
–Both believe it is wrong to put the four cancellations in context.
– $ uicideboy $ had to cancel the tour due to the war in Ukraine, when half the tour was to take place in Eastern Europe. Substitutes for Stormzy and $ uicideboy $ were the three international artists: Central CEE, Baby Keem and Skimask the slump god, says Baade.
– It is of course very sad that Jack Harlow and Polo G have chosen to cancel visits to our festival and several festivals a week before closing, and this led to us having to throw ourselves around for replacements.
According to Baade, many were happy with the booking of Cezinando and Undergrunn.
– We sold a lot of day tickets on Monday, he says, and adds that Undergrunn was at the top of the list when they asked the audience for wishes.
Both did not answer VG’s question whether it would be relevant for the Cadet to refund parts of the ticket price, as the friends Lyngmo and Payami want.
Three years ago, Isah and Dutty Dior were on stage at Kadetten.
Watch video of how it was:
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