Christopher BarrettDHP Family has announced that this year’s edition of its Splendour festival will be the last, citing multiple factors including the impact of multi-national promoters and diminished civic support.
This year’s 25,000-capacity event will conclude an 18-year run for Splendour. Among the artists set to play the festival at Nottingham’s Wollaton Hall & Deer Park on 18-19 July are The Wombats, Snow Patrol, Primal Scream and The Flaming Lips.
George Akins MD of Nottingham-based independent promoter and venue operator DHP Family, who also promotes events including the 15,000-cap Bearded Theory and multi venue Dot To Dot festivals, issued the following statement:
“We’re really proud of Splendour. It has truly played an important part in the lives of many people since its inception in 2008. It was formed through a genuine partnership between DHP and Nottingham City Council, with a shared ambition to build a major, sustainable cultural event for the city.”
“At DHP we have stayed true to that original ambition: bringing international artists to a regional capital, championing local music and creating a summer highlight for the community. But in recent years, while our commitment to our shared vision remained, the level of civic support and collaboration from the council diminished significantly, making it harder to sustain an event of Splendour’s scale. Festivals, and culture more broadly, do not happen by accident; they need continued collaboration between public and private sectors for sustained success.
“Beyond this, everybody knows of the tough financial conditions faced by all festivals, with inflation and cost of living issues making this type of event less affordable for the public. Independents across the country are also facing a highly-saturated market, from stadium shows to one-off outdoor events and regional entertainment, alongside the looming threat of multi-nationals buying up those markets, locking out access to artists and inevitably driving up prices for customers even further. The current model feels unsustainable and it’s unsurprising that many festivals are closing their gates for the final time.
“As one of the UK’s leading independents, we pride ourselves on providing a true alternative offer to the corporate-led festival market. Over the years we have created a host of unique, audience-led events, and those festivals continue to thrive along with our overall business. We do expect to return to Wollaton Park in the future to deliver more events. As a Nottingham-based business, we are passionate about our city; one of extraordinary music heritage, with a burgeoning grassroots scene and an appetite for brilliant music experiences.
“Our hope is that Splendour’s legacy helps spark a renewed conversation about how cities back culture in the years ahead so the music that shapes cities like Nottingham isn’t overlooked or taken for granted.”
The Association of Independent Festivals recently called on the UK government to up its support for the sector on the back of the closure of the twentieth festival this year, with Splendour now bringing the total to 142 event closures in past two and a half years.