INDIE FESTIVAL MARKET IN PERIL: REPORT 

Fresh concerns have been raised about the future of independent festivals in the U.K. thanks to rising costs, which are having an impact on both artists and promoters, according to a report in The Observer.

The Association of Independent Festivals has said there is a 30% rise in the cost of putting on a show, resulting in one in six festivals closing permanently since before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the same time, low artist fees mean some acts can’t afford to play at the events that are still intact. David Martin, chief exec of the Featured Artist Coalition, said, “Artists in the middle are being squeezed. We should heed the warnings we’re seeing from canceled shows.”

Since 2019 the number of independent festivals in the U.K. has dropped to 482 from 600, according to AIF data. John Rostron, chief exec of the trade body, said recent closures are partly due to organizers' staging events in 2022 for “2019 prices” due to tickets honored from pre-COVID dates. He also says the market is losing interest from young fans.

In May, Chagstock—a 5k capacity festival in Devon—announced its closure after 16 years due to "the struggle to catch up after missing a year due to COVID, combined with increased competition, escalating costs, the cost-of-living crisis and lower-than-expected ticket sales," according to a post on Facebook.

Rostron is asking the government for a reduction in VAT, down to 5% as a temporary measure, concluding, “That would mean we can get that cushion, find those young people who might be missing and rebuild.”