“Like everybody last year, 2009, for the entire world, and in every industry was a bit different and a bit challenging. And when we got into 2010 we didn’t have luck in securing the headliners that we would have liked to have pursued. In the last couple of months as we’ve been trying to put the list together, it just didn’t get to the stage that we thought, ‘This is an event that we want to present to people who have been to Virgin Festivals.’ If we can’t produce a festival that provides a talent lineup that we think is appropriate, we won’t go ahead with it,” explained Virgin Mobile Canada Chief Marketing Officer Nathan Rosenberg (via Toronto Sun).

Rosenberg did go on to note, however, that he does believe the festivals will return next summer: “As we move into 2011 we believe that consumer confidence will return, people’s discretionary income will increase and as a result we’ll certainly feel a greater level of confidence in presenting the festival as a marquee part of (our music strategy) as well again next year… Assuming we get the right talent. We have a desire to do that again. From a Virgin Festival point of view, we still absolutely believe in the property.”

Promoters will instead host a series of free concert across Canada this summer, including performances by Iggy Pop and the Stooges, Karl Wolf, Bedouin Soundclash, and Faber Drive.

Virgin’s US festival, the reworked Virgin Mobile FreeFest is still set to take place this summer, currently scheduled to take place on September 25th at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. A lineup has not yet been announced, but we’re told it is “coming soon.”

Hat tip to Bryan for the head’s up…

Virgin Festival BC:
In just two days, Virgin Festival will hit Vancouver for the aptly titled Virgin Festival BC. However, that doesn’t mean organizers still aren’t tinkering with this year’s lineup. Now set to join the previously announced likes of Sonic Youth, The Roots, Future of the Left, Broken Social Scene and Ben Harper & Relentless7 are The Thermals, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, Elizabeth, and Matt Nathanson. Tickets are still available via Ticketmaster.com.

Fabulous Festival:
With Vegoose no more, the Fabulous Festival is now Las Vegas’ major music event. Set to take place from September 3-6, this year’s edition will once again cater to the electro junkie with a lineup featuring the likes of Paul Oakenfold, DJ AM, Felix da Housecat, DJ Reza, and Steve Aoki. Tickets of all shapes and sizes are available via Want Tickets.

Electric Zoo:
3,000 miles east that same weekend, Electric Zoo will look to bring a similar electric extravaganza to the Big Apple, one with a bill that never seems to stop growing. ATB, Axwell & Steve Angello, Guy Gerber, Victor Calderone and Heidi are the latest acts scheduled to join Armin van Buuren, Deadmau5, David Guetta, Richie Hawtin, Super Disco Version and more at Randal’s Island from September 5-6. Best to get your tickets now before they go up on July 30th.

Sunset Strip Music Festival:
Also announcing its ’09 bill this week was the Sunset Strip Music Festival. The festivities will begin on September 10th when the Los Angeles based event will honor Ozzy Osbourne with a tribute concert at the House of Blues. Friday will feature numerous shows throughout the cities venues, as will Saturday, which also boasts the main portion of the festival — a street fest on the legendary Sunset Strip. Scheduled to take part are Chris Cornell, Kottonmouth Kings, Pepper, The Donnas, Shiny Toy Guns, and more. Tickets go on sale beginning Friday, July 24th via Ticketmaster.com.

Farm Aid:
As we reported last week, Farm Aid will travel to St. Louis, Missouri on October 4th for its 2009 edition. We already knew Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews would be taking part in the musical aspect of the event. We now know that so too will Wilco, Jason Mraz, Phosphorescent, and Jamey Johnson. Not a bad start, eh? Tickets will go on sale beginning Saturday, July 25th via Livenation.com.

HARD Haunted Mansion:
HARD’s annual Halloween bash, HARD Haunted Mansion, has only officially announced two names so far: Deadmau5 and Destructo. But thanks to the leaky faucet that is the internet, we also know that Justice, Crookers, Buraka Som Sistema, and Steve Aoki will appear at The Forum in Los Angeles on October 31st. Get your tickets via Fla.vor.us.

So, who’s replacing the Beastie Boys?

Now to the question on everyone’s minds: Who will be replacing the Beastie Boys at the trillion festivals they were scheduled to play in the coming months? Ok, so the Brooklyn trio was set to headline just six – All Points West, Lollapalooza, Osheaga, Outside Lands, Street Scene, and Austin City Limits — but that’s still six festivals needing to find a headliner on rather short notice.

Well, as we know now, Jay-Z will be replacing the Beasties at All Points West, while the Yeah Yeah Yeahs will fill in at Lollapalooza and Osheaga. The other three have yet to unveil their plans, but message board rumors currently have Neil Young “slumming” it in San Francisco for Outside Lands and Karen O. and Co. potentially also filling the void for ACL and Street Scene.

Get the full lineup here. Get tickets, beginning Monday, June 8th, here. Get all your info for all the Virgin Festivals and more here.