Mystery surrounds 'lack of information' over this year's Bingley Music Live

Hype around the popular three-day music festival, which is usually held in Myrtle Park towards the end of August, has been non-existent, leading to questions and concerns over whether this year’s event will go ahead or not.

Last year’s line-up announcement, which featured a headline slot by Oasis legend Noel Gallagher and his band High Flying Birds, was announced on March 29.

And on April 14, the T&A reported there had been record ticket sales, with three quarters of tickets already sold by that point.

While announcements on the festival have been lacking, the Bingley Music Live website says the festival will be held between August 30 and September 1 and “we will be announcing our plans soon”.

It says: “Over time Bingley Music Live has swiftly become one of Yorkshire’s most celebrated festivals and will this year, once again, host some of the biggest names in contemporary music.”

Bingley councillor John Pennington, and leader of the Conservative Group on Bradford Council, said he hasn’t heard anything.

“I would normally have the confidence of the Labour Group and the senior officers, but in this instance there has been no information forthcoming that gives me any inclination.”

He added: “Residents have a right to know whether it’s going ahead or not.

“The large percentage are all for Bingley Music Live because of the benefits it brings to the local economy and to the town in general.”

Cllr Pennington said that to make the festival a success, a big headline act is needed and the “clock is ticking”.

His fellow Bingley councillor David Heseltine said he had been approached by people asking what was going on.

He said: “My worry with the lack of information is that people will make alternative arrangements and do something else and that would jeopardise the success of the event.”

Cllr Heseltine said if it is going ahead, Bradford Council needs to “get their finger out” and get it sorted, or have the courtesy to tell people if it isn’t.

“To leave people dangling is not really professional,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bingley Town Council has also raised concerns.

A spokesperson said: “Residents have raised concerns about lack of information regarding this year’s Bingley Music Live.

“The Town Council will be discussing the issue at its next meeting.”

Jamie Illingworth, Bingley Chamber of Trade and Commerce president, said it was surprising nothing has been announced considering the success if last year's festival with the High Flying Birds.

"It's a concern we've not heard anything from the organisers -it brings a great deal of economic benefit into the town."

The Telegraph & Argus can also reveal there was a £300,000 overspend on last year’s Bingley Music Live.

A Quarter Four finance position statement for 2018-19, which went to Bradford Council’s decision-making Executive, said the overspend was caused by “higher costs”.

It was one of a number of areas within the 'Department of Place' which overspent and the report said they are "partly offset by underspends in other parts of the department".

After years of losing money, Bingley Music Live brought in a profit of over £210,000 in 2017.

The success helped secure the future of the Bradford Council-run festival, which had made a loss of almost a quarter of a million pounds the previous year.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “The Council meets annually to review and decide whether the event will run the following year. This meeting has not yet taken place.  

"Once it has, and a decision has been made, we will make an announcement.

"As reported at the Executive Meeting on the April 2, there is currently a forecast of £0.3m overspend on Bingley Music Live caused by higher costs.”