Alt-Fest bosses confirm it's off

The bosses of troubled Alt-Fest event have finally confirmed it's off.

Rumours began circulating last week that the crowdfunded alternative music and culture festival had been scrapped just over two weeks before it was meant to take place in Northamptonshire on August 15-17.

Fans became furious after several bands reported the cancellation, while organisers only said an announcement would be made in due course.

Now they’ve said it definitely won’t take place, and they’ve revealed refund details for those who’ve bought tickets to see Marilyn Manson, Fields Of The Nephilim and others.

Insisting it was “never a scam or a con” they explain: “We’ve done everything we can to save it, but this week we ran out of time to raise all the required funds that were needed upfront.

“The festival was going to cost £1,703,000 in total to put on, including artists, riders, travel, accommodation, production: power, staging, sound, lighting, track way, fencing, water, waste, the venue fee, security, medical assistance, traffic management, health and safety, marketing and much more.

“If we were to sell a minimum of another 1,000 tickets between now and the festival, we’d have suffered a significant loss that we couldn’t carry. This recently came to light based on a costing error – and the fact that our investor unfortunately pulled out last minute.

“We were expecting to sell more tickets based on our line-up. We thought our logic was sound and this was also backed by other promoters and people we respect in the music industry in general. Marilyn Manson can easily sell out a 5000-capacity venue, as can The Cult, Arch Enemy or Cradle of Filth. We’re still trying to understand why we haven’t sold more tickets.”

Admitting the cancellation has “severely damaged” their reputations, the bosses say they’d even approached main players in the festival industry to take over their business and any accruing profits, but were unable to interest anyone.

After months of battling they add: “We had genuine interest from individuals, investment firms and equity funding companies. Whilst there was every likelihood of this happening, it was this week that our last option had run out. This was mainly because they didn’t understand the festival market or the alternative scene.

“​We want to express our deepest regrets to the artists and to thank all our staff, suppliers and contractors who worked so hard with us.​ Our deepest and sincerest apologies go out to you.”

Full refund details are available at the Alt-Fest website.

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Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.