I think we all know that times are hard, in virtually all respects, but financially, things have been tough for a long while. Every time it looks like there might be some respite, along comes another despot to fuck things up. So it’s the small pleasures that one revels in and the occasional saved-up-for treat, such as an annual festival of the like. And every year myself and my bestie (can I use this term at the age of 61? Oh yes I can!) go to a festival unburdened from social and marital (within reason) responsibilities. For years, it was End of the Road, but that became too expensive and frankly too crowded, and since then it has been the very excellent Red Rooster.
Until this year.
I received this yesterday.
“We are writing to provide you with a further update regarding the cancellation of Red Rooster Festival 2026. As explained in our previous communication, we have been in active dialogue with the event organisers, Red Rooster Festivals Limited, seeking to progress the refund claims of affected ticket holders. Regrettably, despite our formal demands, the organisers have not made the necessary funds available, and we have now received formal notice that the directors of Red Rooster Festivals Limited intend to place the company into liquidation. The appointed insolvency practitioners are Kreston Reeves. If you wish to register a claim for a refund of the amount paid for your tickets, you should contact Kreston Reeves on restructuring@krestonreeves.com.
We appreciate that the situation is far from ideal, and we thank you for your patience and understanding. See Tickets / Eventim”
Really?! I’m £400 out of pocket here, and I’m not the only one.
I am sure that no one at Red Rooster wanted this in any way, and it must have been extremely difficult for all concerned, especially the organisers and artists. The situation is awful all round but I have learnt a painful lesson. Some people are saying that their bank has refunded them, and they must repay in the event of any money being forthcoming. Those who bought with credit cards can get their money back through some mechanism attached to their credit cards. I, through PayPal and my bank, have no hope apparently…
Note to future self: always buy any tickets, or indeed anything at all, with a credit card. Luckily, this year we stretched ourselves to two festivals, and I know Bioa has sold out, so it’s definitely a goer. Just got to take out a bank loan to pay for the fuel to get me to St Davids and back, a journey of 540 miles for the round trip!! Plus, there’s the bonus of Americana 25, which is also on the way to selling out.
Some suitably money-based tracks this week and a radio show featuring The Hanging Stars, Elaine Palmer, Kevin Morby, The Third Mind and many more. First up, The Felice Brothers, who incidentally are headlining the Found Festival, whose organisers are trying to sort out an extra cheap deal for those who have lost money on RR tickets. I hope they do, a lovely and commercially smart thing to do if it happens and secondly, Warren Zevon with a song that seems very fitting. As ever…
