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This year's Hop Farm Festival has now been officially cancelled as organisers blame 'poor ticket sales' after originally planning to put on a scaled down event for 2013.
Despite going into administration in 2012, Hop Farm festival announced its return in March of 2013, naming My Bloody Valentine and Rodriguez as headliners at this year's hugely scaled back event.
Other bands confirmed for the now-cancelled Kent festival include The Horrors, Jimmy Cliff, The Cribs, The Presidents Of The United States Of America and Martha Wainwright.
Organiser Vince Power issued a statement this afternoon (3 May 2013) sharing the news, which reads as follows:
"It’s with great regret that we have to announce the cancellation of the Hop Farm Music Festival 2013.
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.
It is a surprise for us that after 8 weeks of heavy marketing and with such a great bill that we have to cancel, though we are convinced this does not reflect on the artists, it highlights the poor economic climate.
We would like to thank all the staff, suppliers and contractors that have also worked very hard to try and put the festival on again this year.
We have to thank the artists and agents that have supported us over the years and for this year’s acts to know that it has been a very hard decision to make, and we are very sorry that we are not able to have them play.
We would also thank the fans that have supported us over the past 5 years, it is with great sadness that the decision was made.
Ticket holders will receive a full refund from their ticket agents."
The 2011 Hop Farm festival attracted huge crowds but struggled in 2012
In an attempt to regain its footing on the UK festival scene, Hop Farm had dropped its capacity from 30,000 to just 10,000 following struggles in the current financial climate and competition from rival festivals. The festival's promoter Vince Power previously discussed the decision to scale back the show, saying commitment to keeping Hop Farm festival alive was behind organiser's opting for a smaller show.
Previous reports had suggested Hop Farm was faced with 'financial ruin' after Leonard Cohen quit his headline show in 2013 in favour of performing in London instead.
Below: Hop Farm 2012 - Primal Scream, Bob Dylan, Suede and more
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