Open air rock fest is thrown £241k lifeline
‘CRITICAL’ FOR SURVIAL
A DERBYSHIRE music festival has received a £241,000 Government grant, saving it from a bleak future and possible collapse.
Bosses of Bloodstock Open Air, which had been due to take place this summer at Catton Hall in Walton until it was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic, said it had been a “huge, huge relief” to receive the funding.
The money forms a part of the Government’s £250 million Culture Recovery Fund to help save arts and creative industries left struggling by the pandemic.
Bloodstock co-director Adam Gregory said the grant would cover ongoing costs of running the family-owned event.
The 48-year-old said: “It’s fantastic for us because although it doesn’t create a profit for us, it does cover all of our ongoing costs for the next 12 months or so.
“We were at a point where we started to consider the future of
our event, we would have had to use our own personal funds to keep it going.
“It was by no means easy to apply, we had to invest in support from outside our immediate directorships to get it done and it’s hard work.
“But this level of support from the Government is critical for our survival, we’ve had to wait all year and there’s still a lot of work to do for the industry, this is just the first step.”
Mr Gregory said the situation for the arts and creative industries as a whole was “extremely worrying”.
Music venues rely on planning ahead for events, which Mr Gregory said had been impossible during the pandemic - and it didn’t look like it would get better
He said: “The arts have been very much left until the end and the last minute of every thing, we’ve not been able to plan ahead.
“Having 2020 wiped out, and that is our entire earnings for the year, you have to put a strategy in place. Hopefully things will come back next year with a vengeance.
“I think from the mental health perspective people need it, it’s good for people to get out and see live music, it’s not just the economic benefits.”
Mr Gregory said the money will go towards paying a small number of people who work all year round on the festival, as well as paying artist deposits and infrastructure costs.
He said the event was “lucky to have a loyal fanbase”, many of whom have rolled over their tickets for this year’s cancelled festival to 2021.
As a gesture of gratitude to fans, Mr Gregory said the festival had been extended to five days, giving current ticket holders an extra day of music. for free.
Mr Gregory said: “The Bloodstock community is a big family and it’s like being put into isolation without your family, we can’t wait to welcome everybody back and let’s have the party of the century.”
The line-up for next year’s event, from August 11-15, includes headliners Merciful Fate, Devin Townsend and veteran metal act Judas Priest, who will be celebrating their 50th anniversary.
For those who haven’t bought a ticket yet, the offer of an extra day free is available up until January. Tickets can be purchased via the Bloodstock website.