John Rostron: Last News

21 UK festivals had already been cancelled, postponed or scrapped, including Nozstock Hidden Valley who announced in December that 2024 would be their final incarnation after 26 years due to “soaring costs” and financial risk”.Elsewhere, the fan favourite Shepton Mallet skating and music festival NASS announced that they wouldn’t be putting on an event this summer either as it was “just not economically feasible to continue”. Bluedot announced a year off for the land to “desperately” recover after being struck by heavy rain and cancellations last summer, and, in April, PennFest cancelled their 2024 festival due to a “challenging economic climate”.AIF’s CEO John Rostron called 2024 a “devastating period” for festival organisers in the UK.

A post shared by Sundown Festival (@sundownuk)“If you’ve already purchased tickets for 2025, refunds will be processed automatically through See Tickets. Keep the party spirit alive and keep supporting festivals.”The 2024 edition of Sundown ran from August 30 to September 1 and featured performances from D-Block Europe, Tom Grennan, Mahalia, Kenya Grace and Flo.The news arrives on the same day that the Kent-based Black Deer Festival also announced that they were postponing their 2025 event, citing “financial and operational” pressures.

Isle of Wight Festival co-founder, has recently spoken out about what “grieves” him about modern festivals.The festival organiser recently spoke to PA, where he reflected on nearly 25 editions of the festival. Foulk founded the event alongside his brothers Ron and Bill.Speaking to PA, Foulk said: “The festival, with the likes of Bob Dylan and (Jimi) Hendrix and Joni Mitchell and people, it was a pilgrimage for the counter-culture, and the songs and the artists were singing about trying to make a better world.“It was very political in that sense.

key demand – a cut in the VAT charged on tickets.In response, several representatives from various live music organisations have responded negatively to the proposed budget.Jon Collins, the CEO of Live (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment), issued a statement expressing frustration on the lack of action in cutting VAT rates.He said: “Today’s Budget represents yet another missed opportunity to accelerate the growth of the live music sector and the wider economy while also providing urgently needed support for grassroots music through the reintroduction of a lower VAT rate. 20% VAT on tickets in the UK is vastly out of step with our competitors in Europe and North America and has become a material factor limiting the number of gigs, tours and festivals our world class industry can put on.”He continued: “Fewer shows mean reduced economic activity in towns and cities across the country – an estimated £1m is spent in local businesses for every 10,000 people who attend a gig – and heaps further pressure onto grassroots music venues that are closing down at an alarming rate.

official website, the line-up for next year is “coming soon”. Tickets are on sale now – you can buy yours here.This week, organisers of the festival – full name Nozstock The Hidden Valley – confirmed in a statement that “sadly Nozstock 2024 will be the last one”.

DEALSAvex USA – the US brand of Japanese major label Avex – has partnered with TikTok-based music curator Ari Elkins to form new joint venture label Blue Suede Records. “I’m so excited to take my love for finding new artists and sharing them with the world to the next level with Avex and the launch of Blue Suede”, says Elkins.