The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
‘Heartbreak’ at park party cancellation
Organisers of Party at the Park in Perth say they do not believe it will be the last music festival cancelled this year due to the cost-of-living-crisis.
The first-ever Party at the Park was originally planned for 2020 but had to be postponed twice due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A sister festival to Party at the Palace in Linlithgow, the two-day event was finally expected to take place over two days this June.
Acts including McFly, Steps and Sophie EllisBextor were due to appear at the South Inch.
TV star Gok Wan was also ready to perform alongside Dundee singer Be Charlotte and Edinburgh-based Callum Beattie.
But in a statement on the festival’s website yesterday, organisers confirmed it has been cancelled.
Event director John Richardson said the “heartbreaking” decision has been made because people are struggling to afford to attend events.
He said: “If you look at websites like Ticketmaster, very few gigs are marked as sold out. There are events that would have sold out very quickly in recent years that are just not selling.
“We have three years of events that were cancelled being squeezed in this summer and people don’t have the money in their pocket to go around.
“It’s horrible out there at the moment. We are well aware of the knock-on effect that cancelling a gig like this has.”
John says the team of three people behind the event – which is based in Fife – looked at other options to hold Party at the Park but they were not possible.
He added: “There’s also the cultural side of things, with around 49 Scottish artists not being given the opportunity to perform or a payday. The knock-on effect is huge.
“We’re absolutely gutted about it, devastated really.”
Party at the Park is the second Perth and Kinross music event to be cancelled so far this week, with organisers of Mugstock festival – planned for Strathallan Castle – postponing that event until next year.
“I am so angry and upset about this – my friends are all feeling the same,” one anonymous ticket-holder told The Courier.
Organisers of that event blamed the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and also Brexit fallout, with suppliers expecting upfront payment for services and equipment.
Fans have expressed anger and disappointment at the cancellation of Party at the Park.
“We bought our tickets back in 2019 and everyone who was due to go will have been looking forward to having something to enjoy after months in lockdown,” one anonymous ticket-holder said.
“I understand everyone is finding it difficult after the pandemic, but this just feels ridiculous.
“It is only a month to go, everyone has paid their tickets and the line-up was announced weeks ago.”
Fans have also responded to the announcement on social media.
One said: “You are joking. Was going to be such a good event.”
Another posted: “My wee one is gonna be devastated.”
The cancellation of Party in the Park in Perth does not bode well for a hoped-for return to normality in a post-Covid world.
After a fallow two years that the entertainment industry will want to forget, event organisers have been hoping an easing of Covid restrictions will see a flood of people desperate to get back to enjoying music.
While that pent-up demand may well be there, what Party in the Park has found is there is very little disposable cash swilling around to allow music fans to indulge their hobby.
The cost-of-living crisis has many more serious impacts – there are millions right now worrying about where their next meal is coming from – but Party in the Park’s experience is worrying nonetheless from a wider leisure, culture and economic standpoint.