Saturday, December 21, 2024

Cabin fever

These days, the festival season starts as soon as the festive season has ended, with Rockaway Beach the first bash in the calendar before the Christmas tree has even come down. 2025's tenth anniversary event, headlined by Ride, Leftfield and Spiritualized, is sold out - no mean feat in the current climate.

When God Is In The TV's Carmel Walsh spoke to the festival's founder Ian Crowther last year, much of the talk was of diversity, but - I'll be honest - I have sometimes wondered exactly who the line-ups are pitched at. Likewise, you have to assume that the timing - immediately after New Year - is potentially problematic, given that many prospective punters might be skint and/or on a health kick.

Yet, the bills always pique my interest and ticket sales suggest there is indeed a market, while most of us would be glad of something to look forward to as a means of banishing the January blues. As an ATP veteran, I'm glad to see another festival adopt a similar holiday-camp model and make it work. Maybe I'll make it along to Bognor Regis one year.

No comments: