It has been revealed that 21 UK festivals have now been cancelled, postponed or scrapped – with 100 at everlasting threat with out motion.
As reported by The Affiliation of Unbiased Festivals (AIF), they shared “The timing of this milestone means that the variety of pageant cancellations this yr will far outstrip 2023, when a complete 36 festivals cancelled earlier than they had been as a result of happen.”
Their assertion continued: “With out intervention, it’s anticipated that the UK may see over 100 festivals disappear in 2024 as a result of rising prices. With out having had a single regular season for the reason that pandemic by which to get better, the nation’s festivals are below extra monetary pressure than ever.”
Final month, the AIF launched a marketing campaign – The 5% For Festivals – which aimed for a VAT discount on pageant tickets that might save many occasion promoters from closure. The reducing of the VAT from 20 per cent to 5 per cent on ticket gross sales for the subsequent three years would have the ability to give pageant promoters the area they should rebuild.
AIF CEO John Rostron stated in a press launch: “It’s with grave concern that we once more sound the alarm to Authorities upon passing this crucial milestone. UK festivals are disappearing at a worrying price, and we as a nation are witnessing the erosion of considered one of our most profitable and distinctive cultural business sectors.”
He continued: “We’ve finished the analysis: a discount of VAT to five% on pageant tickets over the subsequent three years is a conservative, focused and short-term measure that might save virtually all the pageant companies which can be more likely to fall by the wayside this yr and plenty of extra over time to return. We’d like this intervention now.”
Talking to NME concerning the cancellation and postponement of assorted music festivals, Oscar Matthews – co-owner of Barn On The Farm pageant shared: “For us who placed on these occasions, it’s very exhausting to immediately adapt within the area of six months to a yr to the best way that they wish to attend gigs and the music they wish to see. We’d like extra time to get us to that time.”
Live performance crowd and live performance stage. Credit score: Jena Ardell by way of Getty
“It’s inevitable and it’s already began, however whenever you begin to lose smaller festivals, occasions, gig areas and venues, the alternatives disappear for brand new and rising expertise to get on stage and get their music heard,” he stated. “They’ll undergo and that may inevitably have a knock-on impact additional up the chain.
Rostron additionally added that the quantity on cause for final yr’s pageant cancellations “Was financial and monetary pressures. It comes from a combination of rising provide chain prices, and in the event that they weren’t promoting as many tickets – even by a small proportion – the distinction on the rise in costs and issue in phrases now in place meant they needed to cancel.
He continued: “A lot of festivals occurred the place all the pieces regarded good on the floor. The purchasers got here, had fun, the bands performed, however the festivals truly misplaced cash. A few of them are in issue or could be in issue if there isn’t a very good wind. That’s very worrying. These festivals are round and don’t seem like on fireplace, however possibly they’re.”
