FESTIVAL NEWS

Canada has suffered a spate of tragic deaths and festivals and events with deaths of a woman at the Boonstock Music Festival in Penticton and a man at the Pemberton Music Festival — with police warnings about alcohol and drugs after dozens of Boonstock attendees were sent to hospital. The deaths followed on from two deaths and 13 non-fatal overdoses at a concert in Toronto that caused police to issue a warning about party drugs and in Columbia, Maryland, at the Mad Decent Block Party concert, two died and 20 more were taken to hospital with Leo Knight at 24 Hours Vancouver saying "And there’s the rub. It’s not the organizers’ fault. It’s not the fault of police or security doing their best to try and keep out contraband. It is the fault of each person who makes a conscious decision to ingest chemicals — not knowing or caring what’s in them." Previously the organiser of Melbourne's biggest New Year's Eve party said he could not be blamed if party-goers overdosed at the Telstra Dome event.Sensation dance party organiser Duncan Stutterheim said it would be his "biggest nightmare" if any of the 40,000 ticket-holders overdosed, as did 12 ravers at a dance party at Festival Hall last week.  More here http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/2014/08/05/dont-blame-music-festival-organizers and http://www.theage.com.au/national/dont-blame-me-if-ravers-overdose-says-dance-party-organiser-20081230-776l.html

A woman has died after she was found unconscious in a toilet at the BoomTown Fair festival by security staff and medics. The 31-year-old was attending the event with her husband. She was taken to hospital from the site at Matterley Estate in Winchester, Hampshire, where doctors tried to revive her, but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. Hampshire Police cordoned off the scene where she was discovered at around 1.50pm on the Saturday.


The Reading Festival, which takes place over the August Bank Holiday, has decided not to supply toilet paper for any of the 70,000 music fans set to descend on the site this year. The festival website says: 'We are always improving on our sustainability policies, and this year we're going to crack down on the sheer amount of paper/tissue we have to purchase, considering the amount that gets wasted rather than used for its intended purpose.' Organisers say there will be traders on site selling toilet rolls and people will also be able to bring their own.

The final day of the Boardmasters festival in Cornwall was cancelled "in light of the extreme weather conditions caused by hurricane Bertha", organisers said in a statement. The remains of the hurricane hit most of the UK producing hgh winds and heavy rain in many areas - nearly a month's rain fell in Wales overnight.  Initially it was announced that the opening of the third day of the annual surfing themed event would be delayed. However, as conditions failed to improve, the event day was called off at 12.30pm. The day was due to be headlined by Bastille, with Peace, George Ezra and 2manydjs also on the bill. Refunds will be available.

After a spate of venues have been closed or threatened by closure by often just one complainant or by those who have moved into residence beside existing venues – often in new developments,  a new e-petition has been sent up to challenge noise laws in the UK – “Urgent Review of Noise Abatement legislation” calling upon the Secretary of State to: “conduct an urgent review of all applicable Noise Legislation so that the collective right of local communities to be able to enjoy well-run and managed music venues is properly balanced within the law against the individual rights of owners and occupiers of adjoining properties to limit environmental noise.” http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/65582

Rob Da Bank is planing to replicate his Bestival franchise in North America and at additional sites in Europe. Da Bank has confirmed he's expanding his weekend festival telling The Telegraph: "The deal has been a long time coming. I've never been in this industry for the money but now I'm 40 with three small kids, it's time to get business minded". He adds: "We've made a real impression on the festival market and pioneered a lot of ideas. People think Bestival pours multi-millions into my bank account every year and it doesn't... That's not a sob story but now it's time to knuckle down a bit. My 20s and 30s were a total laugh, but now I have to be responsible". This year's 50,000-capacity UK Bestival takes place at Robin Hill Park on the Isle of Wight between 4-7 Sep, with Outkast, Beck and Foals headlining

Cate Le Bon's planed all-day festival Mas Mas has been cancelled. The event, which was meant to happen on 28 August was facing licensing problems, and will not be rescheduled. 

The schedule for the 2014 FESTIVAL CONGRESS is now online - more here.