We don’t need to tell you that times are challenging – most of us can feel it in our finances every day. The live music scene is experiencing significant strain, with organizations like Music Venue Trust working to highlight the issue.
Festivals are also facing difficulties. According to the AIF, 211 festivals have closed since 2019, with many more in a precarious position. The rising costs of infrastructure, artists, staff, land, and various other expenses have continually increased over the years, especially since the pandemic, leading to constant financial pressure. Festival attendees generally have less disposable income compared to the years before 2019/2020, meaning they are attending fewer festivals annually.
Therefore, if you were to start a new festival in 2025, you'd need to be either quite adventurous or a steadfast believer.
Jess Lardner can provide insight on that matter. A live music professional from Bristol, she has partnered with her husband Will to create Homestead – a boutique event near Bristol featuring performances by MJ Cole (who will be playing his classic album ‘Sincere’ in its entirety), Fat Dog, Warmduscher, Panic Shack, and others.
Her extensive background certainly helps; Jess is the Operations Manager for the Bristol-based independent festival producers Team Love, the organization behind Silver Hayes at Glastonbury. Additionally, she has produced the Massive Attack 1.5 Accelerator concert in Bristol last year, as well as Forwards Festival, Love Saves the Day, and Waterworks. She is well-versed in the festival scene.
Writing for CLASH, Jess Lardner clearly outlines the current challenges faced by live music while also recognizing the persistent rewards.
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You might be surprised, but the festival business can often feel lonely. Even amongst crowds dancing to countless beats, amidst fields glistening with bubbles, glitter, laughter, and reflections from sunglasses, the responsibility of being a co-founder of an independent festival can be incredibly isolating.
The past few years have not been gentle to those courageous enough to follow their vision for events on their own terms. Heading into 2025, there are 221 fewer independent festivals than there were in 2019. There are various reasons for this decline; however, rather than dwelling on those, let's focus on how we can prevent ourselves from becoming an extinct breed. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to support independent festivals. There still exists a demand for human connection, indulgent weekends, and lively dance floors filled with strangers. Being isolated hasn't diminished that need, but the daily grind and rising living costs may indeed pose a threat.
My husband Will and I have spent the previous decade managing a cherished family festival, where we gained invaluable experience in the live events industry. We’ve seen it all, which has informed what we appreciate or dislike about organizing events, and has generated multiple ideas of how things could be approached differently.
When that chapter ended, we felt it was finally time to transform a long-held dream into reality, leading to the creation of Homestead.
Our dream has consistently been to challenge the conventional notion of what constitutes a festival and to move away from the current expectations surrounding weekend live events. We aimed to develop an intimate gathering of like-minded individuals, with limited capacity, excellent music, delicious food, and a good dose of escapism, if just for a weekend.
We decided to set the age limit to over 25s; to our knowledge, this has not been tried by anyone else in the UK. This higher age limit has worked wonders for venues like Pikes in Ibiza, helping to cultivate the desired atmosphere. The initial vision for Homestead can easily be likened to the vibe of a fantastic wedding, minus the stress of an actual wedding. It’s an opportunity to connect, make new friends, and unwind in an environment that isn’t overwhelming, focusing back on the basics and maximizing simple human interaction, complemented by a fantastic soundtrack and delightful food, of course.
One of the best ways we decided to keep everything uncomplicated? All expenses are covered in the ticket price. Your ticket grants access to everything, including those extras usually costing a pretty penny, like hot showers? We’ve got you covered. Parking and campervans? Just roll on in. Breakfast and a Bloody Mary? Just share how you like your eggs and your spice level, darling.
People have gathered for centuries for a plethora of reasons, from ancient pagan rituals around sacred stones to polite gatherings in village greens. Long before that, humans were congregating around fire pits to exchange stories and music, so we have a rich history of celebrations leading up to the festivals we recognize today. They are a fundamental part of our country’s cultural fabric – a legacy we must preserve, while also having the right to redefine what a festival means to us.
For decades, large corporations have profited from people's passion for festivals; however, a significant number of independent organizers have always followed their unique paths. While we may fall into this
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We don’t need to remind you that times are difficult; most of us can feel it in our wallets every day. The live music scene is experiencing significant pressure, with