Simon Holtom has written a letter to clarify and explain things as they have happened. From the way he lays it out, Twisted are at no fault what so ever.
http://www.twistedmusic.com/shponglelive/Shpongle_Live_in_Australia_Statement08.12.08.html

[quote author=“DiMuTech”]Simon Holtom has written a letter to clarify and explain things as they have happened. From the way he lays it out, Twisted are at no fault what so ever.
http://www.twistedmusic.com/shponglelive/Shpongle_Live_in_Australia_Statement08.12.08.html

Agreed, Twisted are not at fault at all.

Dance Aid / Earthcore / Spiro failed to pay a deposit, they should not have launched the gigs or sold tickets until the deposit was paid.

They launched Shpongle LIVE to raise cash for their struggling Dance Aid Earthcore November Carnival - which ended up with about 25 of 45 International Acts cancelling because they did not receive deposits. It was all a scam and now they are grasping at straws to blame someone else so they don’t have to give refunds.

It’s a disgrace but typical of Spiro, he has liquidated 2 companies in the last 6 years leaving behind debts of over AUD$1million to artists, sound hire companies, printers etc. These are not rumors, these are documented facts with ASIC (Australian Securities & Investments Commission) which have been posted on other forums.

&loc=loc862

&loc=loc446

P30: http://www.asic.gov.au/asic/pdflib.nsf/LookupByFileName/ASIC_B11_02.pdf/$file/ASIC_B11_02.pdf

P33: http://www.asic.gov.au/asic/pdflib.nsf/LookupByFileName/ASIC_B31_07.pdf/$file/ASIC_B31_07.pdf

Alerting people to the unethical behaviour of Spiro & his Dance Aid company is necessary so that artists & suppliers do not continue to get ripped off by these people.

Ok to anyone who has purchased tickets to the Australian Sph

Ok to anyone who has purchased tickets to the Australian Sphongle shows and is in the same boat I am in. Read the following these are the steps I am taking to get my money back. If anyone wants to email me about this .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) please feel free to contact me as I will take this matter all the way.

Hello Peter Suwara

You have stated this in a previous email:

After seeking legal advice Dance Aid Pty Ltd has been forced to cease trading until further notice.

No refunds or payments can be made and we advise you to seek alternative advice should you not be happy with this

We apologise for this however the matter is now out of our hands

Ok well I think that is a load of shit! I purchased a ticket for the Sydney Sphongle show. Your company is not providing the stated show anymore as stated in your previous emails. You need to refund the money I payed. And if it is out of your hands please email me the information of the people who’s hands it is in ! Also you have not even given any indication if we will recive reimbursement or when. I have just finished a call to the NSW Department of Fair trading, They have advised me that you have broken the agrement, and that the show has been cancelled. I am intitled to an immediate full refund. If this is not done, I have then been instructed to lodge a complaint to the fair trading group to take this matter further.

Hope to hear from you soon

Joseph Sayle

I suggest that action is best directed through the Victorian Fair Trading office due to the company being listed on ASIC as based in Victoria.

If enough complaints are received an injunction can be sought to force an undertaking to refund customers.

EDIT:

On 10/12/08, submissions from DANCE AID PTY LTD were made to ASIC:

                      484 Change to Company Details
  484B Change of Registered Address
  484C Change of Principal Place of Business (Address)

Just been reading about this fiasco, and it’s all pretty shocking stuff.

[quote author=“Spawned”][quote author=“beanie”]
We are now in the process of commencing litigation against Simon Holton from Twisted Records and Ron Rilvin from Coast to
Coast for damages caused to our company.

They’re fucking SUEING twisted over this??!!
Jesus christ i hope these fuckers don’t get away with this. I mean come on, it’s quite easy to see who’s at fault here: twisted, a record label who have put on countless parties, sent their DJs and live acts all over the world and have not once (to my knowledge) gained a reputation for ripping party promoters or their fans off or the promoters of these festivals who recently got in deep shit over a festival they launched in november for not paying their artists and then threatening to sue them if they didn’t show up….

I really hope this doesn’t jeapourdize the possibility of future shows. A lawsuit against twisted and shpongle is hardly a good way to start off a string of shows and a new album :?

I hope this all works out for you guys…

This has gone beyond laughable. The promoter in question I think has lost the plot. Like the previous poster I really hope this does not ruin the chance of Shpongle Live in Australia some time in the future or any Twisted artist for that matter visiting our shores. How can a scene which has punters often signing off with the acronym PLUR become so political and bitter?

Not only could it be harmful for performances down under but the repercussions of a lawsuit on Twisted could mean less albums and stuff released. They won’t be able to sign new artists etc. You can see where this goes.

So let’s hope it blows over and comes to nothing. Even now I bet it’s costing Twisted by having to seek legal advice to see how to proceed and what their options are so on and so forth.

We could set up a “Save Twisted from the Earthcore Corporation” fund
On a serious note I read this on another forum who is also discussing this. It would seem that a certain person is having their lawyers send out letters to ITM threatening them for forum members calling “THIS PERSON” a c**t and ‘defaming’ him.

So let’s not get twisted even more caught up in it by writing silly comments or name calling on certain people etc on these forums. I’m no legal brain but it’s best to not say or do anything to spread the flames of a fire.

Thanks for the cooperation

Am too very disappointed that we will not see Shpongle live in March 09 as planned.

Am $179 out of pocket at present.

Currently in process of awaiting advice from my credit card company tomorrow regarding possibility of disputing the transaction.

Have also lodged complaint with Consumer Affairs Victoria about no refunds being offered by Dance Aid Pty Ltd.

Not sure of my chances of getting my $$ back. Have spent so much money over years with EC…more fool me I guess :(

Here’s also a website I have come across which explains chargebacks on credit card transactions:

http://www.moneybuddy.com.au/credit-cards/transaction-disputes.html[/url] 

Hope all who get the pleasure of seeing Shpongle play in Oz at Tribedelic for NYE have a brilliant time. I would attend if I had the spare $$ 

xxxxxxxxx

All who find themselves out of pocket in this manner, please contact www.consumer.vic.gov.au for the Melbourne lie and www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au for the Sydney lie, the more people involved in this manner the stronger the case.

Peace

[quote author=“artscendence”]All who find themselves out of pocket in this manner, please contact http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au for the Melbourne lie and http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au for the Sydney lie, the more people involved in this manner the stronger the case.

Peace

It appears that someone has finally taken notice of all this. If you still have not done so it is advised by consumer affairs that you contact your bank/credit card company and request a charge back.

Hopefully this will be the end of the shonky practices of Dance Aid/Earthcore!

http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/CA256F2B00224F55/page/Listing-ConsumerAlerts-2008-12-30+-+Dance+Aid+Pty+Ltd+-+Public+Warning?OpenDocument&1=942-Consumer+Scams+&+Alerts~&2=~&3=~&REFUNID=30ED22BEA971660CCA2574320010FA50~

And a story here:

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/entertainment/705341/dance-company-outed-in-victoria

Re: Shpongle LIVE CONCERT in Australia! 7 - 9 March

[quote author=“Adam Brown”]
Tickets from  

I just wonder when are they gonna perform in th USA? Any idea?

Hello all,

I have received a written request today to provide the director Consumer Affairs Victoria assistance in preparing an affidavit to commence any necessary enforcement proceedings relating to Dance Aid breaching the Fair Trading Act.

Even if you have received a charge-back on your credit card I urge you to pursue this offer to gather information in order to ensure that justice is made in this matter and the perpetrators are met with the full and due course of the law.

The issue is being taken very by seriously by CAV (they don’t issue many public warnings relating to breaches of the legislation) and it is important to allow the momentum to continue by providing them with as much information as possible to facilitate a due and proper investigation.

Please take the time to contact CAV and register your interest in this case. It is a perfect opportunity to make Dance Aid/Earthcore accountable for their illegal business practices.

I too have received paperwork & a written request from Consumer Affairs Victoria to provide details of my experience with Dance Aid. In process of completing the paperwork.

I have not yet been re-imbursed for the tickets I purchased, waiting for my credit card company to give me an outcome. Some one I know received their money back and they had paid cash/direct debit so there is hope I guess.

Like many, I will be very glad to see the end to this mess.

Hopefully we will get the pleasure of seeing Shpongle play live again one day without all this bullshit attached.

Peace

:wink:

so, given the current situation should i hold out any hope of a live shpongle show in australia sometime next year?

if i had the money (and didn’t have uni) i would be coming over for the roundhouse show, unfortunately i don’t see myself having enough dosh in the near future to be able to see shpongle in an exotic location (easter island would be sweet ), and although i’m sure we’ll see another dj / hallucinogen set, i have a bad feeling that i’ll never get the chance to see shpongle live.