With the news that Sundown Festival and Black Deer Festival were no longer taking place in 2025, alongside a report that over 72 UK music festivals did not take place this year, is there now a growing concern that the UK music festival calendar might not be quite as busy in years to come?
While Glastonbury, TRNSMT and Leeds and Reading continue to survive despite a cost of living crisis and inflation to boot, some of even the most lucrative of festivals have fallen foul of poor ticket sales, a disastrous year causing damage to good will, or just simply it’s unaffordable to run anymore.
We’ve taken a look at 13 music festivals (some of which this writer has attended and shed tears for too) that once were cornerstones of the UK festival calendar, only to fade away into distant memories - or in one case, deep regrets.
Did you attend any of these festivals yourself? Let us know by leaving a comment below, but without further ado, here’s 13 UK music festivals “in memoriam."
9. Homelands
Homelands was a dance music festival organized by Mean Fiddler Music Group (later known as Festival Republic), which took place from 1999 to 2005. The festival was known for its mix of live acts and DJs and was held in multiple locations across England, Scotland, and Ireland. The primary English location was Cheesefoot Head near Winchester, Hampshire. It also had Scottish editions at the Royal Highland Showground near Edinburgh in 1999 and near New Cumnock in 2000, while Irish editions were hosted at the Mosney Holiday Center in County Meath in 1999 and 2000. | Universal Images Group via Getty
10. All Tomorrow's Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties (ATP) was a renowned music festival that ran from 1999 to 2013, known for its unique curatorial approach, where artists chose the line-up, offering an alternative to the typical festival format. However, ATP faced financial difficulties over the years. In 2012, the company running the festival went into liquidation with a significant debt of £2.6 million. The organization attempted to recover by setting up a new firm, Wilwall, but this also struggled financially, resulting in the cancellation of events, including the Jabberwocky festival in 2014. | Getty Images
11. Bloc Festival
Bloc Festival, which began in 2006, was a significant event in the UK electronic music scene, covering genres like electro, IDM, techno, drum and bass, dubstep, and hip hop. After a hiatus, the festival made a return in 2015, but organizers announced that the 2016 edition would be the last. The decision to end the festival was partly influenced by logistical and financial challenges. | Canva
12. Sonisphere
Sonisphere Festival was a major touring rock festival that took place across Europe, with a strong presence in the UK until 2014. The event was known for featuring iconic heavy metal acts such as Iron Maiden, Metallica, Judas Priest, Slayer, and Avenged Sevenfold. Babymetal also made their UK debut at the 2014 event. Sonisphere's UK presence ceased after 2014, with CEO Stuart Galbraith revealing in 2018 that the festival would not return due to financial issues. Despite its strong lineups and legacy, the event faced increasing challenges, leading to its end in the UK. | AFP via Getty Images