Popular UK summer festival attracting 50,000 per year is AXED – leaving fans devastated
A POPULAR music festival which attracts more than 50,000 revellers a year will not be returning in 2025.
The event has been a staple of the summer festival season for years but punters will miss out this year.
Africa Oyé, which celebrates African music and culture, pulled in a sea of music lovers in 2024 – smashing previous attendance records.
However, bosses are feeling the pinch of industry supplier costs across the sector, Liverpool Echo reported.
The popular festival will therefore take a ‘fallow year’ to prepare for what will be a fiercely awaited return on June 21 and 22, 2026 at Liverpool’s Sefton Park.
It comes as spiralling costs forced around 125 grassroots music venues across the country closed last year, while an estimated 192 festivals have vanished since 2019.
“We understand that there will of course be disappointment with this announcement,” Paul Duhaney, artistic director of Africa Oyé, said.
“Our relationships with the Oyé family, festival staff, traders and service suppliers are very important to us and we did not take this decision lightly.
“With increased infrastructure and compliance costs, it is simply a case that without major investment to cover the costs of delivering a festival of this size safely, it would be irresponsible to go ahead with the event in 2025.”
Paul added: “I can reassure everyone that the festival will be back in 2026.
“The break will allow us to raise money through a series of fundraising concerts, allow us time to negotiate with major partners, sponsors, and funders, and work towards a safe and successful return to Sefton Park.”
Meanwhile, Jen Cleary, director, North and Combined Arts, Arts Council England, said: “Africa Oyé’s celebrations of African music and culture are well-loved across both the North West and the national music scene and it was great to see record attendances to its 2024 festival.
“Given the current challenges, we understand the decision to take a fallow year and we are pleased to support the team as it works on strengthening the festival’s future.
“We look forward to seeing Africa Oyé return in 2026.”
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, also weighed in on the decision.
“Africa Oyé is a major event which we are proud of and over the years it has grown out of all recognition, both in terms of numbers and the brilliant content,” he said.
“Everything in the event world has changed post Covid-19 with huge pressure on all outdoor events in terms of infrastructure.
“It is right that Paul and the team have the time to reset, after consistently delivering an event which gets bigger and better every year.
“They have our full, unwavering support and we will work with them and Arts Council England closely over the next year to ensure they can deliver Africa Oyé in the way they want – with great artistic ambition but also the capacity to look after the growing numbers of festival-goers.”
Last summer, major Scots festival was cancelled axed due to weather misery as remains of Hurricane Ernesto pummelled the country.
The Strathaven Balloon Festival was due to take place this over two last August.
The annual event celebrate hot air balloon is Scotland‘s only festival of this kind and was due to celebrate its 25th anniversary year between 23rd and 25th of August.
Thousands travel to see hot air balloon pilots take to the Lanarkshire skies as part of the many stunning air displays taking place throughout the weekend.
There is even parachute jumpers who make a daring leap from the balloons as part of the exciting entertainment.
The festival attracts over 30,000 revellers to Strathaven Park a year.