Hop Farm Fails

Vince Power’s dwindling UK festival empire is looking even rockier as this year’s Hop Farm has been canceled because of poor ticket sales.

In September, poor sales at Hop Farm and Spain’s Benicassim Festival resulted in Power’s Music Festivals PLC going into administration with debts of £4.8 million (then $7.27 million).

By year end, Power bought back both festivals as Jonathan Lane, who handled PMF’s demise for Leonard Curtis, confirmed he’d paid for “whatever goodwill” is attached to them.

Power vowed this year’s festival would go ahead and the July 5-6 lineup would include My Bloody Valentine, Rodriguez, The Horrors, Jimmy Cliff, The Black Angels, The Cribs, and The Presidents Of The United States Of America.

Fans should return tickets for a full refund. There has been no indication of how many of tickets – which were £135 with camping, or £110 without – remained unsold.

“It’s with great regret that we have to announce the cancellation of the Hop Farm Music Festival 2013,” Power said. “We have worked very hard to try to make it work but it has proved too much a of mountain to climb and despite fighting hard, circumstances are such that based on poor ticket sales and the forecast selling rate substantial losses would be made.”

This year’s Benicassim (July 18-21) is expected to go ahead with a lineup that includes Beady Eye, Johnny Marr, The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, Queens of the Stone Age, Primal Scream, Dizzee Rascal, Jake Bugg, and Kaiser Chiefs.