Council-Run Bingley Music Live Festivals Takes Breather After $389,000 Loss

Andrew Benge/Redferns via Getty Images – Bingley Music Live
The crowd enjoys Jess Glynne performing on stage, Aug. 30

Bingley Music Live, which usually takes place in West Yorkshire, England, won’t take place this year, after reportedly incurring losses of £300,000 pounds ($389,000) in 2018.

The festival, which is organized by Bradford Council, was headlined by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds last year, when it took place Aug. 31-Sept. 2. Other headliners included Shed Seven, Jake Bugg and The Cribs.

To pull off last year’s edition, organizers went £300,000 over budget, Bradford Council confirmed to the BBC.

The council said it would “explore different operating models” to limit future financial risk. One of the options, according to the report, includes “the potential to work with partners to stage the event.”

The statement released by the organizers of Bingley Music Live reads:

“The three-day music event, which has been a popular fixture on the festival scene over the years, will be taking a fallow year in order to give the land and local population a break as well as giving the organisers a chance to take a breath and evaluate the future delivery of the festival.

“We know Bingley Music Live will be missed by the many people who have grown to enjoy it. We’re also aware that the event has been a boost for the town’s economy and we’ll be working with local Bingley organisations to look at what else we might be able to do in the area. We believe that taking a year out will allow for the delivery in 2020 of a well-planned, financially viable and sustainable festival that provides a great experience for visitors to and residents of the district.”

According to the BBC report, the council would give £20,000 to Bingley Chamber of Trade to run events in the town this year to support the local economy.

The organizer’s statement continues: “While there will not be a Bingley Music Live in 2019 there are still lots of great events across the district this year for people to enjoy. Some of which include the Dragon Boat Festival at Saltaire in June, Bradford Festival in July and the UCI cycling world championships at the end of September.”