Music festivals across Scotland are dying due to the cost of living crisis, organizers warn

MUSIC festivals across Scotland are dying due to cost of living crisis, organizers say.

The bosses had to cancel the parties due to poor ticket sales as players were under pressure to get paid.

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Young and established events are among those that need to be canceled or pushed back.

Alan Govan, 41, Director of planning and development for MugStock said around £25,000 was lost as a result of the postponement of this year’s event.

Cumbernauld businessman wants Tax Breaks available for theatre, television, film and museums can be expanded festivals.

He said, “The costs have increased dramatically, in some cases by 300 percent.” This Tax There are reliefs intended to make it financially easier for companies to create cultural experiences.

“If independent festivals don’t prosper, the only option will be bigger and commercial events.”

Music tourism is worth more than £580m to the economy but promoters have lost millions, players are seeking refunds and artists and crews are scrambling to find other gigs.

MugStock was scheduled to take place at the Strathallan site this week Lock in Auchterarder, Perthshire. Scottish rockers Idlewild were hand-picked at the top the bill.

But despite the “best sales ever” the event was “postponed”.

Customers can choose between a full refund on the day for £65 or on the weekend for £160 tickets or to turn them around next Year.

Out East was also due to take place in Dalkeith Country this week parkin Edinburgh, with Faithless, Sister Sledge and Goldie.

Organizers scrapped it in June due to “an incredibly difficult time at events” and “escalating production and event costs.”

Fans have been told to contact their retailer for a refund of their £50 tickets.

And the Midnight Sun Weekender was set to take place in May at Lews Castle Grounds in Stornoway, Western Isles.

The line-up consisted of John Fogerty, Primal Scream and the Pretenders.
The organizers blamed “increasing costs and limited availability”. festival Infrastructure” and “the cost of living crisis” are affecting ticket sales.

Out East organizer Shane Grieve, from Edinburghsaid: “Last year was the busiest year ever for Scotland live music and festival Story when we emerged from Covid.

“This backlog created equipment and staff shortages due to the number of shows and the number of people leaving the stadium Industry during the pandemic. This led to a price increase.

“The costs for equipment and personnel have increased even further. That pushed many festivals from breaking even and making losses.”

The Union of Independents festivals says there were 600 events held across United Kingdom four years ago.

This year the number fell by a fifth, so that only 482 events should take place.

Managing Director John Rostron said: “What the festivals sector needs now is a small but quick intervention to ensure operators are ready to meet the challenges of 2023, such as: energy Cost, inflation and the cost of living crisis.”

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