Beachdown festival cancelled

In these modern times of multiples music festivals every weekend over the summer, it was always likely that some wouldn’t make it.

And today news has emerged that Brighton’s Beachdown festival, due to take place this weekend at Devil’s Dyke on the South Downs, will not go ahead.

The directors of the festival posted an emotional letter on the event’s website. They said:

“It is with immense personal regret that the Directors of Beachdown Festival have been advised that they must announce that due to slower than forecast ticket-sales and lack of support at a critical time from our bank and certain suppliers that despite being so so close to being able to deliver Beachdown Festival we are unable to do so.

“Very simply we were unable to meet the demands that the current economic climate put against us and at the eleventh hour despite having most of the infrastructure in place we have been forced to cancel the event.

“We wish to say at this time how desperately sorry we are to all those who have bought tickets or were participating in the event and to say that we all here are personally shattered expecially after eleven months of battling against the recession to try and put this event on and coming so close.

“We also wish to advise everyone that we explored every possible avenue to finance the event including re-mortgaging our houses to combat the unwillingness of banks to support us.”

Acts such as Grace Jones, the Fall, the Rakes and Super Furry Animals were due to play the bash.

Ticketholders are advised to contact the outlet from which they purchased their tickets for information about refunds.

Comments on the Argus’ (Brighton’s local newspaper) website were less than kind about the festival’s plight.

One wrote: “Rubbish line-up, arrogant organisers and always going to happen. You can’t force something to happen because you think it’s a good idea, you have to do your research and make sure it CAN work first” and another said the cancellation was “not surprising at all. The line-up was an insult to Brighton.”

This article was written for TMM.