Have festivals had their day?
Discussion
I've been going to V since 2000 and it's failures are a direct result of ambitious pricing vs a deteriorating line-up which is simply failing to attract the crowds.
Brownstock, from what i heard, was closed only because the Brown family never intended it to be a long term festival and once they achieved their goal they were done.
There's definitely a place for decent festivals, but quality of line-up remains key.
Brownstock, from what i heard, was closed only because the Brown family never intended it to be a long term festival and once they achieved their goal they were done.
There's definitely a place for decent festivals, but quality of line-up remains key.
crashley said:
Brownstock, from what i heard, was closed only because the Brown family never intended it to be a long term festival and once they achieved their goal they were done.
Nope! I know the family and was looking to resurrect it for a while with them.They got a licence from Maldon District Council to increase from 5,000 people to 15,000 people over a five year period. Once you get above 5k, the organisation changes considerably and they sold the rights to a specialist festival company (that also looked after 5 or 6 other smallish festivals and one big one - Y-Not, IIIRC); leasing the license, land and concession rights to that company.
That company was acquired by Global Media who promptly dropped all the small festivals.
The Brown family were pretty peed off. They'd invested a lot in securing the larger licence and had ambitions to go beyond the 15k at some point too.
The company they subbed it out to were, I think, too ambitious on the acts they booked which put the finances under pressure. In 2015, Dizzie Rascal played a 45 minute set on the Friday for which they paid £40,000!!!!!
StevieBee said:
Looking like the V Festival will just be Chelmsford next year (re-branded and smaller).
We lost a cracking little festival near us (Brownstock) this year which is unlikely to return.
Others are struggling.
Have they had their day in the sun?
With Livenation and AEG buying everything, there is a worry that a lot of smaller festival will go, but I do feel they may thrive. When every festival is essentially the same, your ArcTanGent style festival offer a great alternative with a great festival spirit.We lost a cracking little festival near us (Brownstock) this year which is unlikely to return.
Others are struggling.
Have they had their day in the sun?
JLC25 said:
...your ArcTanGent style festival offer a great alternative with a great festival spirit.
That isn't one I'd heard of before, put it on my list to try when I get time!The smaller independent festival that stays small and independent through choice won't have a problem if they have a niche. The likes of Bloodstock, Hammerfest, Green Man, End of the Road that concentrate on the quality of the festival experience as much as they concentrate on the choice of bands playing will be fine.
Those like Y Not who (post buy out) offer the same old line up, increase capacity, and reduce the operational budget to squeeze more profit from the festival treating their customers like mugs are going to struggle to get people to come back. I am not convinced that the large umbrella corps who are buying festivals will make it work with their current model.
tankplanker said:
hat isn't one I'd heard of before, put it on my list to try when I get time!
The smaller independent festival that stays small and independent through choice won't have a problem if they have a niche. The likes of Bloodstock, Hammerfest, Green Man, End of the Road that concentrate on the quality of the festival experience as much as they concentrate on the choice of bands playing will be fine.
Those like Y Not who (post buy out) offer the same old line up, increase capacity, and reduce the operational budget to squeeze more profit from the festival treating their customers like mugs are going to struggle to get people to come back. I am not convinced that the large umbrella corps who are buying festivals will make it work with their current model.
It's geared towards math/post-rock/hardcore/noise etc. so the modern "Alternative scene".The smaller independent festival that stays small and independent through choice won't have a problem if they have a niche. The likes of Bloodstock, Hammerfest, Green Man, End of the Road that concentrate on the quality of the festival experience as much as they concentrate on the choice of bands playing will be fine.
Those like Y Not who (post buy out) offer the same old line up, increase capacity, and reduce the operational budget to squeeze more profit from the festival treating their customers like mugs are going to struggle to get people to come back. I am not convinced that the large umbrella corps who are buying festivals will make it work with their current model.
I'm thinking of Pukkelpop next year as well!
StevieBee said:
crashley said:
Brownstock, from what i heard, was closed only because the Brown family never intended it to be a long term festival and once they achieved their goal they were done.
Nope! I know the family and was looking to resurrect it for a while with them.They got a licence from Maldon District Council to increase from 5,000 people to 15,000 people over a five year period. Once you get above 5k, the organisation changes considerably and they sold the rights to a specialist festival company (that also looked after 5 or 6 other smallish festivals and one big one - Y-Not, IIIRC); leasing the license, land and concession rights to that company.
That company was acquired by Global Media who promptly dropped all the small festivals.
The Brown family were pretty peed off. They'd invested a lot in securing the larger licence and had ambitions to go beyond the 15k at some point too.
The company they subbed it out to were, I think, too ambitious on the acts they booked which put the finances under pressure. In 2015, Dizzie Rascal played a 45 minute set on the Friday for which they paid £40,000!!!!!
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