Culture chiefs considering return of Southern Fried Americana

Culture body Horsecross Arts is considering the future of a popular Perth music festival.

The Southern Fried Festival was put on hiatus last year, as organisers struggled with severe budget pressures.

At the time, festival director Andy Shearer pledged that the city-wide celebration of Americana roots music and culture would return “refreshed and raring to go in 2020”.

Asked about this year’s plan, Horsecross Arts – the charity in charge of Perth’s theatre and concert hall – stopped short of confirming that the show would go on, but insisted that a 2020 event was being considered.

The festival, which has been running for more than a decade, attracts fans from across Scotland and has welcomed acts such as Steve Earle, Nick Lowe and Loudon Wainwright III.

Mr Shearer said: “Southern Fried 2020 is being discussed in our current budgeting process and we hope to have an announcement very soon.”

The 2019 event was scrapped in March that year, before the extent of Horsecross Arts’ budget woes came to light.

An investigation into financial failings which led to a mass resignation of directors in December revealed “toxic” mismanagement throughout the organisation.

In the summer, Perth and Kinross Council was forced to bail out Horsecross to ensure its workforce of 150 got paid.

Speaking about the future of Southern Fried in 2019, Mr Shearer said: “Creating the best possible festival is a very expensive process and we think it is fair to Southern Fried fans to present them with a festival that meets their and our high expectations.”

The event usually runs over several days in July.

Picture: Steve MacDougall. Steve Earle and the Dukes perform at the Southern Fried Festival in 2018.