Republic Warms To The Big Chill

Less than a month after Festival Republic chief Melvin Benn told Pollstar his company has further acquisitions in the pipeline, it has purchased a major slice of the U.K.’s Big Chill Festival.

The 15-year-old Big Chill, which takes place at Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire, joins a festival portfolio that already includes the U.K.’s Reading, Leeds and Latitude festivals as well as Norway’s Hove Festival and Ireland’s Electric Picnic.

Big Chill creative director Katrina Larkin and her team relocated to Festival Republic’s London offices Sept. 29.

“This marks an exciting time for The Big Chill and I am thrilled to welcome Katrina and her team into the Festival Republic family and even more thrilled to have the opportunity to develop this fantastic festival, both here in the U.K. and internationally,” Benn said in a statement.

Larkin says it’s a great opportunity for The Big Chill, particularly as it follows what’s arguably been its most successful edition.

Next year’s Big Chill Festival takes place Aug. 5-8.