Maverick dance event The Glade has been cancelled, with organisers citing spiralling costs.
Glade festival began as the outcast dance arena at Glastonbury, before gaining its independence in 2004. Since then, the event has established itself as one of the most unique on the summer calendar.
Shifting venues last year, The Glade seemed to be going from strength to strength. This summer the event was boasting a line up which included Orbital, Delphic, Riva Starr and plenty more.
However in a new statement organisers have confirmed that Glade will not now go ahead. “Faced with what is already an expensive event to put on and with these unexpected forced increases in security and police costs as well as a level of advanced ticket sales that is below our expectations we have no choice but to do the responsible thing and cancel the event.”
“We have explored every way we can to keep the event going and, unfortunately, have been unable to find a solution. We have been unable to secure sufficient financial backing and scaling back the event, to a level where we can be confident we could pay all our bills, would mean losing smaller venues and the quirkiness that make up the heart and soul of the festival.”
Continuing, the statement outlined that Glade would not compromise their ethos to make ends meet. “At our new venue, Matterley Bowl, there has actually been some amazing support from the local council who’s officers recognize the professional and co-operative way we run the event and the contribution to the local area and the country’s cultural diversity.”
“However this year the requirements imposed upon us for policing, security and stewarding have been greatly increased” they revealed. “To make matters worse the reluctance of the police to negotiate in advance and deliberately delay any dialogue with us has resulted in our being unable to tie down a final costing for the event. This, along with unexpected legal fees associated with a last minute license review, has radically increased the cost of the festival.”
“We are an independent, sponsorship free event. The ethos of the Glade is to provide a place where people can safely come and express themselves freely and peacefully, dance and be in the countryside with the music they love without a heavy urban police and security presence.”
Organisers finished by stating that they would try to bring back The Glade next summer.
