THIS year’s Bingley Weekender will not go ahead, it has been announced, with organisers saying there has been a “lack of clear guidance” for the events industry.
People with tickets for the festival, which was due to run from August 6 to 9, were desperate to know whether it would go ahead after the 2020 event had to be pushed back because of the pandemic.
In a statement, organisers said they had worked hard to make the festival happen this year, but added: “Unfortunately the lack of clear guidance for the events industry coupled with how close our event is in the calendar to the July 19 open day, we feel we have no option but to reschedule the festival.”
The statement added: “We were so proud of this year’s line-up. Thankfully, the majority of it will remain intact. Unfortunately, Primal Scream cannot make it in 2022 due to other commitments but the good news is Rag’n’Bone Man will replace them and our other headliners Pixies and The Libertines will still play the festival albeit one year on.
“Just like many other independent festivals we have been waiting for a UK Government-backed Covid insurance policy which has not arrived and without insurance of this kind, we can’t make all of the financial commitments that we need to.
“Also, with the unpredictability of new variants and the UK’s delayed reopening date, the festival this year is just too much of a risk for us to take.”
The organisers went on to say: “After the council cancelled Bingley Music Live in 2019 the idea of Bingley Weekender was to keep first class artists coming to Bingley year on year. This year’s line-up demonstrates that. We appreciate your continued support. It really does mean a lot to us.
“We are currently working on something very special in 2022. Weekend ticket holders will get free access to the newly added Thursday night opening party and we have a very special guest lined up for that, so you might want to hold onto those tickets.
“Bingley Weekender, Bees Camping and Bradford & Bingley Rugby Club are grateful for your support but if you are not able to keep hold of your tickets and would like to apply for a refund, please email customerservices@ticketline.co.uk with your name and booking reference number before Friday, July 2 2021. Refunds will be processed within 90 days.”
The cancellation comes as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) criticised the lack of non-financial support in its Covid-19: Culture Recovery Fund report.
They said: “Festivals are making difficult decisions about whether to risk their survival by going ahead this summer, but the department has not modelled the cost of underwriting festival indemnity insurance.”
The sector has warned that, without the Government bearing the insurance risk, the UK faces a litany of cancelled events for a second summer.
A spokesperson from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said it is continuing to “explore what further support, including issues around securing insurance, may be required when the culture sector is able to reopen”.
Meanwhile, Andrew Lloyd Webber has joined others in the entertainment industry in launching legal action to force the Government to hand over the results from its coronavirus pilot events scheme.
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