Festival fans left in limbo over Ramblin’ Man cancelled shows
No sign of rolled over gig now replaced by new rock extravaganza
Dozens of customers of a cancelled music festival say they have been left in limbo and are still waiting for ticket refunds a year on.
The Ramblin’ Man Fair in Maidstone attracts thousands of people to Mote Park every year but has been postponed for the past three.
Organisers blamed the Covid19 pandemic and the effect it had on European and American artists’ ability travel to the UK. Festival-goers were originally told they could roll their tickets over for the new event, but the event has seemingly disappeared and been replaced with a new rock gig in the same month and location.
Maid of Stone is taking place over two days in July and has revealed its line-up but has no connection with the Ramblin’ Man event or its owners.
Now, a year on from their latest cancellation, customers who have rolled their tickets over and spent between £150 to £300 have
been left sweating over how to get refunds.
On January 26, 2022, Ramblin’ Man posted on Facebook: “Dear Ramblers, It is with a heavy heart that we announce the postponement of Ramblin Man Fair 2022.
“We would like to thank everyone for their patience whilst we have been busy weighing up all
possible options. Sadly, we have reached our final decision. “Against the backdrop of the pandemic and the wave of cancellations that is seeing a disruption to US and EU artists, it has become increasingly difficult to bring you the incomparable RMF experience in full force. “With our heavy reliance on US artists, Ramblin’ Man is particularly vulnerable. With US flights opening up, there can be no doubt the virus will continue to spread quickly.”
The festival spokesman claimed it had some “amazing headliners ready to rock” and it would be back “bigger and better than before”.
It told fans to keep an eye out for an exciting announcement which would come in six weeks, but to date none has been made.
It added: “A huge thank you goes out to all our loyal ticket holders for their continued support. All tickets, will of course, be rolled over automatically.” However, a spokesman for Eventbrite said: “The organisers of Ramblin’ Man Fair announced on May 10, 2021 that the event was cancelled. “Following this cancellation, Eventbrite worked with the organisers to process refund requests from ticket holders within a 45-day window. “Eventbrite does not hold any ticketing proceeds from this event anymore.”
There was no event on the ticket sellers’ website for 2022.
Luke Benda, who owns the entirely separate Maid of Stone Festival, said: “Maid of Stone is a brand new, innovative rock festival in Mote Park on the weekend of July 22-23, 2023.
“It is a two-day event bringing in renowned international artists, and up-and-coming UK acts as well as giving promotion to local bands.
“Our plan is to build a sustainable rock festival, growing yearon-year and serving rock fans throughout Kent and beyond. “We approached Maidstone council and asked if we could put on a rock festival as we had heard how badly the previous promoter had treated fans.
“We were informed that Ramblin’ Man was no more and no dates were booked for that festival.
“We have no connection to Ramblin’ Man, in either team involved or the company itself. “MoS is organised by Lucus Live, which organises many of the current events and festivals at Mote Park.”
In July 2021 Spirit of Rock, the promoter of the Ramblin’ Man festival, went into liquidation.