The Guardian newspaper has reported that The Association of Independent Festivals’ (AIF) CEO, John Rostron, has called for urgent government intervention to assist events hit by rising supply chain costs, debts incurred during the Covid pandemic and slower ticket sales.
The AIF confirms that 36 festivals either folded or were postponed in 2023, adding to the 100 events that have disappeared since 2019, when there were 600 live music festivals in the UK – said to be a peak for the sector. Many of the casualties last year were smaller, less established events, but this year established festivals such as Nostock, Standon Calling and Bluedot have succumbed to rising costs – with the latter two taking a “fallow” year out to regroup, and the 5,000-capacity Nostock’s organisers confirming that costs have soared 40% since the pandemic.
Full story here.
Read our festivals future-proofing feature here.
