Organisers of the Nozstock festival have announced that their 2024 edition will be the last, because the financial risks related to staging such an event have become too great. That has prompted the Association Of Independent Festivals to again call on the UK government to provide support for the sector through a VAT reduction.
The boutique festival has been staged in Herefordshire since 1998 when it began as a barbecue at the farm of the family that own the event, the Nosworthy family. Confirming that their 2024 festival will be the final one, organisers said: "After the losses incurred over COVID, straight into a cost of living crisis, the financial risk is becoming too great".
They conceded that changing the format of the event could reduce some of those risks, but added that that would negatively impact on the experience.
"Nozstock has always been a totally independent event with a wide variety of entertainment on offer", they explained, "and although there are changes we could make to allow the festival to continue, the final product is something we don’t recognise and wouldn’t be the event you love".
Most independent festivals usually operate on tight profit margins and the cancellations caused by COVID, followed by a surge in production costs and the cost of living crisis, have made staging such events incredibly challenging.
Which is why AIF has been calling for more government support for the sector, in particular requesting a cut in the VAT on tickets, like that which was implemented during the pandemic.
Its CEO John Rostron said yesterday: "After almost three decades of great events, Nozstock has become a key fixture on the UK's independent festival calendar, and [its ending] should serve as yet another alarm bell warning of the perilous situation that many in this cultural sector are facing”.
As a result of that perilous situation, he added, Bluedot, NASS and Leopallooza will not go ahead next year, while Field Maneuvres has also said that its 2024 edition will be its last.
"The impact of COVID and high supply chain costs means the squeeze on festivals is increasing", he concluded. "It is inevitable that there will be more closures if urgent action is not taken. We again call on the government to review VAT on music festival ticket sales and lower the rate to 5% for an extended period to help support the recovery of the festival sector".
On their final event, Nozstock's organisers continue: "We intend to go out with a bang! We will be putting together a line-up of some of our favourites from over the years plus the usual exciting additions you’ve come to expect from us. We will celebrate the amazing 26 years we’ve had, the people we’ve met, the sights we’ve seen, the music we’ve heard and the moments we’ve made".