Wales’ largest independent concert promoter Orchard Live has ceased trading and has gone into liquidation, citing “enormously challenging trading conditions”.

The company has promoted shows with acts such as Queens of the Stone Age, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Diana Ross, George Ezra and Sam Fender

But the firm says trading conditions since the onset of Covid-19, compounded by the impact of the cost-of-living pressures on ticket sales, had made it impossible to continue operating.

“Despite the best efforts of a hardworking and very talented team, Orchard Live has been unable to fully recover from the consequences of the pandemic and the ensuing challenging trading conditions,” says a spokesperson for the promoter. “After exploring all possible strategies to avoid this action, the difficult decision has been made to put Orchard Live into creditors voluntary liquidation.

“The past three years have been enormously challenging for the music industry”

“The past three years have been enormously challenging for the music industry and there have been a number of casualties in the sector.”

The statement points out that the company lost summer seasons in 2020 and 2021, and costs increased significantly for rescheduled shows in 2022.

“Despite some great successes, an oversupply of concerts, a slow public return to live events, the cost-of-living crisis and increased competition from national promoters has not produced the required level of sales, leading to unsustainable losses,” adds the spokeperson. “This news will unfortunately be a blow to music lovers in Wales who have been able to enjoy Orchard Live’s work over many years.”

Any ticket-holders for an Orchard Live show are advised to contact the ticket outlet they purchased their ticket from for more information.

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The company behind Australia’s The Grass is Greener Festival has gone into liquidation with debts of more than A$3 million (€1.8m).

Hand Picked Events and Marketing went bust last December and officially went into liquidation last month, reports 7News. Director Oliver Frost has cited “spiralling costs following Covid” plus “unforeseen extreme weather conditions” for the collapse.

First held in 2016, organisers cancelled Grass is Greener’s 2022 Geelong and Canberra legs last October due to the shows “selling slower than predicted” and concerns over adverse weather. The festival’s Gold Coast and Cairns shows went ahead with artists including PNAU and Wafia, while headliners OneFour, Ty Dollar $ign, Zhu and Maya Jane Coles dropped out.

“Prior to Covid, we had put on successful music events for six years and our intention was to continue to expand on these great experiences for fans and artists,’ Frost tells the Gold Coast Bulletin via the Daily Mail. “Unfortunately spiralling costs following Covid, coupled with unforeseen extreme weather conditions and an already tough environment for the live entertainment and hospitality industries, greatly contributed to this outcome.

“It was never our intention to do anything other than create a festival that had a positive economic impact for our community”

“It was never our intention to do anything other than create a festival that had a positive economic impact for our community – including for staff and suppliers, many of which are friends – and the artists involved.”

Creditors have reportedly been told that Frost and Grass is Greener co-founder Jonathan Eddings used the festival’s money to give interest-free loans to restaurants the duo had a stake in.

“Creditors will receive an update report within three months of the liquidation appointment,” Tom Vandermeer of administrator BCR Advisory tells the Bulletin.

Ticket-holders are still owed $120,900, while other creditors reportedly include agencies United Talent Agency and Cult Artists.

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