LONDON (VIP-NEWS) — UK popular festival Standon Calling, recently joined the list of 2024 events forced to postpone, marking the ninth cancellation for UK festivals this year.
John Rostron (pictured), CEO of the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), urgently calls for government intervention due to rising supply chain costs, pandemic-induced debts, slow ticket sales, and the impact of the cost of living crisis. Rostron notes a trend of financial struggles and debts in the festival industry, with many events unable to survive until summer.
This predicament threatens the existence of traditional live music events, considered a cultural rite of passage during the British summer, leaving only major festivals like Glastonbury standing.
The AIF says 36 festivals either folded completely or were postponed last year, adding to the 100 events that have disappeared since the peak in 2019, when there were 600 live music festivals in the UK.
Established festivals like Standon Calling, Bluedot, and Nozstock are succumbing to rising costs, including a 40% increase for Nozstock since the pandemic. Factors contributing to the crisis include higher artist fees, a lack of marquees used for Covid testing centers, exorbitant shower hire costs, staff shortages, Brexit-related departures, and rising logistical expenses.
Some event organizers, like Simon Taffe of End of the Road festival, have increased ticket prices to offset growing costs, while others emphasize the importance of unique visions and curation to survive in the risky festival business.
Amid the challenges, certain festivals, such as Afro Nation and Live At Leeds, thrive by tapping into specific music genres and niche audiences.
