Standon Calling has become the latest UK festival to postpone until 2025 due to the financial pressures facing independent music festivals. The Hertfordshire-based boutique event, which was scheduled for 20-23 July, said a “very challenging climate” had made it too expensive to run the festival this year. In recent weeks, several other independent festivals have also postponed due to similar pressures.
In a letter to fans, director Alex Trenchard said that ploughing on with the festival in the current climate could “risk the future of the festival”. Standon Calling’s move comes days after several performers and caterers claimed that the festival still owes them thousands of pounds for work dating back to last summer. A BBC report revealed that one catering business is still waiting for takings amounting to £13,000.
John Rostron, CEO of the Association of Independent Festivals, said that the current climate was pushing festivals to the brink and put the survival of all but the largest UK festivals at risk. Rostron urged the government to reduce VAT on festival ticket sales from 20% to 5% through the 5% For Festivals campaign. This evidence-based, simple, and sensible remedy he argued, would ease the financial burden on promoters, allowing them to return to health.
The postponement of Standon Calling is the latest in a series of cancellations and postponements of grassroots UK music festivals this year. The financial pressures facing these events have forced several to cancel, including Nozstock Hidden Valley, Doonhame Festival, and Nottingham’s Splendour. Rising costs have also led festivals such as Bluedot and Barn On The Farm to take a “fallow year” in 2024
Read the full article on NME here: Read More