A website promoting an event that was supposed to be held in Malta this month featuring major artistes like Kylie Minogue, Jon Bon Jovi, Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber, went “down for maintenance” yesterday amid serious doubts about it.

An agent of one of the artistes purportedly involved called it a “scam”.

The website, www.festivalatlarge.com, claimed five out of 15 hugely famous pop stars would be shortlisted to participate in a unique series of “musicals” after garnering enough votes from their fans. Fans from all over the world would have to submit an online payment of €1 to vote, entering a draw to win tickets to the “exclusive” event to which only a few hundred people would be allowed in, strictly by invitation. The winners could also win a “Red Carpet Package” including an all expenses paid trip with VIP access, $10,000 cash and “special gift bags valued at over $15,000”.

However, several people and organisations said to be involved in the event have denied their participation.

The website listed various “official” sponsors including Air Malta and the Intercontinental Hotels Group, both of which denied being sponsors, saying they were only contacted for information about their services.

The website also thanked the government for support but a spokesman for the parliamentary secretary responsible for culture, Mario de Marco said the government was not sponsoring the event in any way. “Nor is it involved in any manner in its organisation or hosting,” the spokesman said, adding the government was informed some months ago about the plan to hold such an event but the meeting held with foreign organisers was “merely informative”.

“No support or assistance was sought from the government and no subsequent contact was made.”

Meanwhile, the Office of the President denied having already given permission for the organisers to use Verdala Palace, one of the locations the website claims will be used.

“Although this office has been approached with this request, the decision is still being discussed and, hence, its details on the mentioned website have not been authorised and instructions have been given to have said details deleted.”

The Times spoke to the managing agents of jazz-pop star Jamie Cullum, one of the artistes listed on the website, who called the website a “scam”. “I can confirm that Jamie Cullum is definitely not performing at this so called ‘Festival At Large’ event and, in fact, AirMTM management have never been approached about a potential performance by Jamie,” Sian Thomas said.

She added an agent of Mr Cullum’s was trying to get the site taken down. Less than an hour after contact was made with Mr Cullum’s management, the website was in fact removed.

Interestingly, a number of artists who were named as being involved with the festival up until last week were removed from the site one by one, including Michael Bublé, Bryan Adams, Duffy and Hilary Duff. But others remained, including Black Eyed Peas, the Jonas Brothers, Christina Aguilera, Nelly Furtado, Justin Bieber and Zac Efron.

The website, owned by Rebellion Interactive, a company the website says is registered in the Seychelles, also claimed that 25 per cent of the money from voting was to go to charities chosen by the performers.

David Mullally, who describes himself as a contact person between the organisers and the people involved from the Maltese side, had said he would be addressing a press conference this week about the event. Yesterday, he said the website had been taken down because of “slight technical difficulties”.

“There are a couple of things that need to be sorted out, both from our production side and the website itself. We will announce on Thursday (tomorrow) what will happen.”

Asked if the event would be postponed, Mr Mullally said he did not want to use those words but “there’s no point over-promising and under-delivering”.

Confronted by the fact that Mr Cullum’s agent was never approached about the event he said: “Well, that is not an area that I was involved in, regarding artistes and that sort of stuff. I was told they had all been confirmed.”

Asked for the contact details of the promoters he said: “I’d rather not give that to you, I must admit, until I find out what exactly is going on.”

Mr Mullally did not say how many people had voted so far.

Meanwhile, Ruben Caruana, of the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre, who was listed on the website as a production guru, said yesterday he had been contacted about the event, which was originally meant to be organised in Monaco. He said he was still trying to verify whether the event would actually happen and was in touch with various people involved.