Hideaway festival cancelled due to “cost of living crisis”
Hideaway Festival, a new 20,000-capacity event in the UK, has been cancelled due to “the cost of living crisis”.
It would have been the first-ever festival to take place at the Crix, a grade two listed building in Essex with 51.5 acres of gardens and parkland.
Bastille, Clean Bandit, James Bay, Texas, Ella Henderson, Lucy Spraggan, Freya Ridings and Jake Bugg were slated to perform at the family-friendly event, scheduled for 4 and 6 August 2023.
The boutique festival was launched by promoter Roy Trickett, a co-founder of Norwich’s Sundown Festival (now owned by ULive). A longtime promoter in the southeast of England, Trickett has also organised concerts at Hylands Park, Sandringham, Broadlands and Gatcombe Park.
He also tried to get Hideaway off the ground during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
Trickett also tried to get it off the ground during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021
“We have encountered numerous challenges, including escalating production costs and the prevailing cost of living crisis,” said a spokesperson. “Despite our best efforts, we are unable to meet the costs associated with delivering a top-quality event on such a large scale.”
The spokesperson said that all customers would receive refunds for the event.
The cancellation comes despite organisers announcing on 25 April that its early bird and tier one tickets were sold out, and suggesting other packages were nearly sold out.
Ticket prices for the festival varied but single-day early-bird passes sold for £60. The event offered glamping options and allowed customers to pay in instalments.
Other festivals that will not take place in 2023 include Falls Festival (Australia), Rolling Loud (US), Summerburst (Sweden), Hills of Rock (Bulgaria), InMusic (Croatia), Wireless Germany, Hear Hear (Belgium) and Tempelhof Sounds and Tempelhof Sounds Presents (Germany).
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
Bastille, Clean Bandit to headline new UK festival
Bastille and Clean Bandit are set to headline a new 20,000-capacity festival in Essex, UK.
Hideaway will be the first-ever festival to take place at the Crix, a grade two listed building with 51.5 acres of gardens and parkland.
James Bay, Texas, Ella Henderson, Lucy Spraggan, Freya Ridings and Jake Bugg are also slated to perform at the family-friendly event, taking place between 4 and 6 August 2023.
The boutique festival is promoted by Roy Trickett, a co-founder of Norwich’s Sundown Festival (now owned by ULive). A longtime promoter in the southeast of England, Trickett has also organised concerts at Hylands Park, Sandringham, Broadlands and Gatcombe Park.
“We’re very proud to be hosting the first-ever music festival in this unique space”
“Everyone on the Hideaway team is so excited to bring this family-friendly, boutique festival to Chelmsford,” says Trickett.
“Headliners have all been hand-selected for their unmissable performances and the venue provides a perfect escape in a central Essex location. We’re very proud to be hosting the first-ever music festival in this unique space – and have a few surprises in store for our festival guests!”
In addition to live music, festivalgoers can expect a vintage funfair, excellent street food options, woodland DJ sets, art installations and glamping facilities for those wishing to stay on site.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
New UK festivals seek to ‘reinvent the wheel’
The UK is to gain a number of new festivals this year, each boasting a concept that puts a spin on the traditional greenfield affair.
Velio Festival is hoping to reinvent the wheel by bringing together cycling, music, comedy, gastronomy and wellbeing across a three-day event.
The debut edition is projected to take place from 17–20 September in the grounds of Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire.
Five cycling routes will be set out around the castle’s grounds, varying from 3km to 100km to cater for cycling enthusiasts of all ages and abilities.
The line-up is yet to be announced, but organisers have promised performances from international artists and comedians across the festival’s five stages.
The festival will also offer a physical wellbeing programme comprising talks, workshops, wood-fired hot tubs, yoga, meditation, wild swimming, walks, runs and games – plus an array of gastronomical offerings; feasts, long-table banquets, award-winning chefs, local produce and speciality bars.
Velio Festival is for “the late-night dancers, early morning meditators, weekend feasters and mid-week riders”
Organisers say the event is for “the late-night dancers, early morning meditators, weekend feasters and mid-week riders”.
The event is the concept of Mustard Media, which has grown festivals worldwide including Afronation, Lost & Found, Elrow, and locally Manchester Pride, Parklife, The Warehouse Project and Lightopia.
One Island Festival is also set to make its debut this September (3–5) on a 380-acre private island in Essex.
Touted as ‘the UK’s very own island getaway’, the hyper-exclusive festival will host a maximum of 500 people across 23 island properties including yurts, bell tents, village cottages, penthouses, courtyard apartments and manor houses.
The three-day event, organised by global party brand Candypants, will cater to fans of disco, R&B and hip-hop with sets from Chesqua, Colin Francis, Dave Robinson and Drew Moreland.
Tickets for the festival start from £497.50 plus booking fees for a basic bell tent.
One Island Festival is to make its debut on a 380-acre private island in Essex owned by record producer Nigel Quentin Frieda
Elsewhere in the UK, London’s newest event Yam Carnival promises a unique combination of carnival and music festival and ‘an unrivalled celebration of black culture from around the world’.
Produced by Festival Republic, Smade Entertainment and Event Horizon, the one-day festival will pay tribute to afrobeat, hip-hop, dance, afro-swing and R&B.
The inaugural edition on 28 August at Clapham Common will feature performances from Davido, Kehlani, Ari Lennox, IAMDDB, Ms Banks, Princess Nokia and Nao across three stages, ‘Carnival Stage’, ‘Afrika Shrine Alive’ and ‘Afrotronic’.
The celebration of black culture will extend to the festival’s F&B offering, which will comprise ‘traditional home comforts and contemporary bites’ from African-influenced food trucks and chefs from around London.
General release tickets starting from £65 are now on sale.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
“Changes in the industry” force BSTK cancellation
Boutique British festival Brownstock is to close after 12 years.
Brownstock (BSTK), which had been held at Morris Farm in Chelmsford, Essex – close to the V Festival site – since 2005, was programmed by IME Music and promoted by London-based Count of Ten, which last month sold its Y Not and Truck Festivals to the Global group.
No line-up had yet been announced for the 2017 festival. Tinie Tempah, Mark Ronson and Kelis headlined in 2016.
“After 12 years of incredible music, amazing people and the best memories, it is with heavy hearts that we have made the difficult decision to shut the farm gates and no longer hold BSTK Festival,” festival management said today.
“Due to changes in the industry we can no longer deliver the event we set out to create”
“Due to changes in the industry we can no longer deliver the event we set out to create and that we feel you deserve.
“We will cherish the memories you have all helped us create, as we hope you will too. We will always be proud of what you all helped us to create and the cultural influence in the local area, without your support there wouldn’t have been a festival.”
Ticketholders for BSTK 2017 will be refunded.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
‘Essex’s Necker’ to host Krug-backed music fest
A private island in the UK’s Blackwater estuary will next month serve as the venue for a “unique” luxury and music food festival promoted by French champagne-maker Krug.
With a line-up curated by The Clash guitarist Mick Jones, Krug Island will take place on Osea Island on 1 September and feature performances from Mystery Jets, Rationale, Hollie Cook and Alan McGee’s latest signing, Willow Robinson, and gourmet food from Michelin-starred chef Michael O’Hare.
Osea, owned by record producer Nigel Frieda (The Rolling Stones, Sugababes), is located around an hour away from London and has been called “Essex’s Necker”, in reference to Sir Richard Branson’s private island in the Caribbean. The 380-acre island is a favourite of musicians – it has a recording studio, Miloco’s East Point – filmmakers and celebrities (the Daily Mail, with usual hyperbole, calls it “the secret island where the A-list go to drink, strip off and party all night”) and has previously hosted The Hydra’s Lost in a Moment festival, which will return for its 2016 edition on 10 September, and the short-lived Drifters Festival.
“The artists involved are really great and the sounds diverse; it’s going to be a really special evening”
Willow Robinson tells IQ: “Krug Island is completely unique, and I am so happy Mick asked me to be involved. The artists involved are really great and the sounds diverse; it’s going to be a really special evening.
Krug Island brings together all the best things in life – food, music and champagne – in a intimate setting with only 150 guests. It’s a fully immersive experience.”
Tickets are on sale now, priced at £449 per person.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.