The EIF (Events Industry Forum, a not-for-profit organisation) has made a substantial funding contribution to www.eventsapprenticeship.org to help it develop and promote apprenticeships in the UK events industry. The funding has been provided by EIF from sales of the Purple Guide, the go-to guidance for organising outdoor events which is widely used both in the UK and increasingly overseas. Events Apprenticeships is the UKEVENTS led initiative, set up to pull together and develop event industry related apprenticeships across the sector, from logistics, production, rigging, lighting, fabrication, security etc. The aim is to support companies in understanding the value and processes…
Author: Andy Lenthall
One in six UK festivals came to an end during and in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, new data from the Association of Independent Festivals suggests. A study carried out by AIF in the first half of 2023 shows there were 600 music festivals held in the UK in 2019, but only 482 will take place in 2023. The 19.7% decline includes festivals that disappeared during the pandemic and those which tried to return in 2022 but either failed in 2022 or took place but have not made it through to 2023. AIF currently represents 22% of the independent…
UNTOLD, Romania’s biggest electronic music festival, has announced that Untold will become Dubai’s First Mega-Festival, unveiling its debut at Expo City Dubai in February 2024. With unwavering support from Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism and in partnership with Expo City Dubai, UNTOLD Dubai promises to revolutionise entertainment and establish itself as the new icon of the city. The festival, the first of its kind in the region, will transform Dubai’s Expo City into a fully immersive and groundbreaking experience that ignites the senses. To announce the launch, UNTOLD joined forces with world-renowned DJ Armin Van Buuren and the majestic…
Serious Stages’ first major festival of the ’23 summer season began with a sold-out Download Festival at Donington Park Circuit, providing the stages and site structures. Accommodating the multi-ton technical production and scenic elements, the main ‘Apex’ stage was a Serious 25m TZ 6-post roof, including a ‘Super Bowstring Arch’ with a 10-tonne capacity. This was linked to goalposts for screens and audio by Download’s iconic Totem décor, creating a spectacular 67.2m wide focal point. Metallica brought in five cylindrical video towers, as part of their European festival tour set, which meant Serious switched to two side-by-side front-of-house structures (rather…
The fundraising achievements of Nottingham-based music producer DHP Family, local musicians and their audiences are to be permanently recognised in the naming of new accommodation for rough sleepers in the city. A block of eight purpose-built flats in Forest Fields is to be named Akins House after DHP directors George and Sean Akins. They masterminded the development of UK Festival Award winning Beat the Streets – the annual one-day music festival dedicated to raising funds to support work with local rough sleepers by the charity Framework. Funds raised from tickets, bar sales and merchandising at each festival have been used…
Pitch, Scotland’s international conference of hip hop and underground culture, announces the first tranche of artists and speakers taking part in the event set for the weekend of Saturday 19th August and Sunday 20th August across three venues in Glasgow. Charismatic artists Lamaya and Oakzy B will perform at a showcase marking the end of Pitch 2023’s first day, which centres around musicians and other creatives working in Scotland, while the following day Pitch360 will see performances from Ogun (Wales), Theolodge (USA) and Canada’s Kxng Wooz close a day which shifts focus to the wider global stage. Nigerian-Scottish artist Lamaya…
On Friday 14 July, Modern Music Cities will ask what contemporary music cities look like presently and need to look like in the future, with a dynamic programme of insightful discussions, engaging panels, and thought-provoking presentations. Industry experts, music creatives, cultural leaders, and policymakers will explore the significance of music cities, their cultural impact, the role of technology and industry organisations, diversity and inclusion efforts, and future prospects for the music industry within these cities. A presentation by award-winning author and thought-leader Seth Godin will Reimagine Music Cities, exploring opportunities for them and their leaders, whilst Jamaican author, essayist and…
The Association of Independent Festivals has today launched a pioneering new campaign and fund that will enable access to festivals for hundreds of thousands of people aged 18+ across the UK. The ‘First Festival Campaign’ has been built on the belief that, upon turning 18, everyone should be able to access the pivotal cultural moment that festivals provide. But, in recent years, many have not had that opportunity. The Covid-19 pandemic saw most people who were turning 18 at the time miss out on their first festival experience due to lockdown. Even in 2022, lots of festivals rolled tickets over…
New Festival, Hideaway, due to take place in August at Crix, near Chelmsford, with headliners including James Bay, Bastille and Clean Bandit, has announced its cancellation. In a statement released on their web site and socials organisers said: “Regrettably, we have encountered numerous challenges, including escalating production costs and the prevailing cost of living crisis. Despite our best efforts, we are unable to meet the costs associated with delivering a top-quality event on such a large scale. “We also did not feel that it was the right choice to pass on expenses onto our valued customers and raise ticket prices…
As festival season approaches, organisers, partners and sponsors are looking for new ways to measure the success of the festivalgoer experience and its effect on ROI. Caroline McGuckian, CEO of Meshh, discusses the importance of looking at the bigger picture when it comes to event data, crowd dynamics, and offering value to festival partners. With an estimated 1,000 events taking place each year, festival season is undoubtedly a major landmark in the UK events calendar. Attendees from a wide range of demographics travel across the country, generating more than £1bn in revenue for the UK economy. With those kinds of…