Sacha Lord, the founder of Manchester’s Parklife festival and The Warehouse Project, has announced his departure from the event industry. Lord, who is also Manchester’s Night Time Economy Advisor, confirmed the news following a transfer of shares to LN Gaiety, a subsidiary of concert and festival giant Live Nation. The company is a joint venture between two leading live entertainment corporations: Live Nation and Gaiety Investments. In 2016, Live Nation-Gaiety Holdings purchased shares in The Warehouse Project and Parklife festival, enabling the two brands to benefit from each other’s international expertise.
Lord revealed that the decision to step down was a difficult one but that he had always known that Parklife 2024 would be his last event. He expressed excitement at the prospect of focusing more on his roles in the night-time economy and hospitality sectors, as well as preparing for the birth of his first child with his wife, Demi. Lord was the first Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, tasked with addressing issues related to the sector such as lobbying for extended opening hours and improving night-time transport links.
Lord founded The Warehouse Project in 2006 alongside Sam Kandel, with whom he also started Parklife in 2010. This year’s festival took place at Heaton Park and featured performances from the likes of Doja Cat and Disclosure, but there were also several cancellations, including headliners Fisher and J Hus. As he steps down from his event management roles, Lord has pledged to continue his work as a voice for the hospitality industry in the UK, both as Chair of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) and in his Night Time Economy Adviser role.
Lord took the opportunity to thank the millions of people who have attended events at The Warehouse Project and Parklife over the last few decades, the tens of thousands of staff members who have played a role in the festivals, and his closest associates for their support. He expressed his excitement at watching from afar now and wished the teams behind the events all the best going forward
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