News that the UK’s events industry is struggling shouldn’t come as a surprise to any raver, we’ve watched countless independent and grassroots venues close their doors over the past four years, and now UK festivals are in the financial firing line. The pandemic and Brexit caused costs to rise by an average of 30%, and now, inflation, the cozzie living crisis, and disgustingly high energy rates are continuing to crap on small festivals fighting stay alive, with fans watching more independent events announcing 2024 as their final year.
36 festivals cancelled before their 2023 editions took place due to economic strain across the country, including One In The Woods, and 6 UK festivals have already announced some form of cancellation this year (who else is crying over NASS?).
Filling us in on the issues facing small and independent festivals right now, AIF CEO John Rostron said: “We really are at a critical point for the UK’s festival sector. Five years ago, it would have been impossible to imagine that promoters would have to endure something as damaging as the Covid-19 pandemic – but many of them did, without passing the inevitable cost onto the consumer. To think that, since then, they have had to manage the effects of Brexit, the war in Ukraine, inflation and an energy crisis is staggering. That festival-goers were able to enjoy some of the fantastic events they did in 2023 is a testament to the resilience and passion of those promoters. But we lost 36 festivals last year, and with six festivals having postponed activity in 2024 or closed the gates for good, we are on track to see well over double the number of casualties this year.”
If the thought of losing more god-tier events sends a shiver down your spine, there is something you can do. The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) have launched a new campaign, ‘5% For Festivals‘, calling for a temporary reduction from 20% to 5% VAT on ticket sales for the next three years, giving promoters and festivals time to get back on their feet and rebuild after a series of rough years. AIF’s movement includes a new website that outlines the problems promoters are facing and gives festival-goers tools to write to their MPs about the grace period.
Frankly, some temporary support for our music scene is the least the UK Govement can do, given the massive middle finger they’ve given us time and time again. If you want to support some superior small festivals and ensure the teams, giving ravers a getaway from reality every summer, keep their jobs as they should, you can do so here.