Friday, May 3, 2013 3:55pm ET by  
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Hop Farm Festival 2013 cancelled: "It highlights the poor economic climate"

Despite previously confirming a scaled back event for 2013, the organisers of Hop Farm Festival have announced that they have now been forced to completely cancel it.

The music festival, which usually takes place in Kent, went into administration in 2012 but was due to go ahead this year on a much smaller scale. Unfortunately, it has since been axed due to 'poor ticket sales' and lack of public interest. Headliners from previous years have included Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Paul Weller.

Acts that had been revealed for the 2013 bill include My Bloody Valentine, The Cribs, Martha Wainwright and The Presidents of the United States of America. Organiser Vince Power issued a statement (May 3) on the sad news, which reads:

"It’s with great regret that we have to announce the cancellation of the Hop Farm Music Festival 2013. We have worked very hard to try to make it work but it has proved too much a of mountain to climb and despite fighting hard, circumstances are such that based on poor ticket sales and the forecast selling rate substantial losses would be made."

"It is a surprise for us that after 8 weeks of heavy marketing and with such a great bill that we have to cancel, though we are convinced this does not reflect on the artists, it highlights the poor economic climate. We would like to thank all the staff, suppliers and contractors that have also worked very hard to try and put the festival on again this year."

He concluded the statement by thanking those involved and expressing his disappointment in having to axe the event: "We have to thank the artists and agents that have supported us over the years and for this year’s acts to know that it has been a very hard decision to make, and we are very sorry that we are not able to have them play. We would also thank the fans that have supported us over the past 5 years, it is with great sadness that the decision was made. Ticket holders will receive a full refund from their ticket agents."

 

 

 

 

Watch Power talk about the success of the 2012 festival here: