KENDAL CALLING CALLED OFF

British festival Kendal Calling is the latest event to cancel its 2021 edition, with organizers blaming the government’s delay in publishing safety guidance and effecting an insurance scheme.

The 25k-capacity, sold-out festival was scheduled to take place in the Lake District at the end of July, with Stereophonics, Dizzee Rascal, The Streets and Supergrass set to headline. However, without safety guidelines on how to run events, which were due to be published on Monday as part of the government’s Event Research Programme (ERP), organizers say they can’t proceed.

A statement from Kendal Calling founders Andy Smith and Ben Robinson reads: “Our understanding is that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) are keen to publish the ERP findings and guidance, but that it now does not fit around No. 10’s communications plan. This is insulting to our entire industry, who have been awaiting the results of a pilot event that took place almost two months ago to inform our approach to staging events safely this summer.”

In addition, Smith and Robinson say the festival was denied a chance to take part in the next series of pilot events, which would have enabled it to move forward. They also criticized the lack of a government-backed insurance scheme.

“We take this opportunity to urge the government to re-appraise its approach and to listen to the recommendations of its own reports as the continued lack of leadership hampers the recovery of our live event industry.”

Tickets will be valid for next year’s festival, which will take place 7/28-31.