Virgin Festival, set to feature the likes of Maroon 5 and One Republic, has been postponed.

"Changes have been made to Virgin Festival by Virgin Mobile in order to ensure an even hotter line-up, and one that will make South Africans proud," was the word from Peter Boyd, CEO of Virgin Mobile.

The festival has been postponed to early 2009 in order to secure the international line-up that is more in line with what Virgin Festival stands for throughout the different countries.

"Our criteria for a successful Virgin Festival are a great Greenfield venue, an impressive and eclectic international line-up, a huge local line-up, the Road to V bringing local unsigned bands into the mix, and some quirky brand activations for the crowd from Virgin. Four out of five of these are on track, but we're not entirely satisfied with the international line-up," said Boyd.

"Some of the bands that South Africans kept asking for were simply not available at that time of the year."

As a platform for the Road to V winning band, three concerts presented by Virgin Mobile will still be taking place. On 13 December in Johannesburg at Coca-Cola Dome, 14 December at Durban's ICC and on the 17th in Cape Town at Grand Arena at Grandwest. Maroon 5, One Republic, The Parlotones and Goldfish will be hitting the stage together with Road to V's winning bands. The grand winner will still open the Virgin Festival by Virgin Mobile when it goes live.

"International acts Maroon 5 and One Republic will still be coming to South Africa, therefore existing ticket sales will still be honoured, only now the concert will be a curtain raiser for Virgin Festival 2009. Unlike the festival it will be indoors, but the dance arena will still be included," explained Attie Van Wyk, CEO of Big Concerts.

For those who've already bought tickets, there are three options:

• Hold onto tickets for next year's Virgin Festival, as they will still be valid;
• Get a full refund from Computicket;
• Or attend the Virgin Mobile pre-show instead, which will be cheaper, so you will also be entitled to a partial refund of your original ticket price.