Latest news with #FestivalRepublic
Euronews
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
How the UK's Green Man Festival has managed to stay independent
Amid the tranquil verdant hills of the Brecon Beacons in south Wales, one of Europe's most special music festivals finds its home. While many festivals might turn their sites into cacophonous blurs of hedonism and noise, Green Man Festival is a little different. Sure, there's plenty of noise. After all, this year's line-up includes Northern Irish rap group Kneecap, electro legends Underworld and indie rockers Wet Leg... But what sets apart Green Man is its community-led independent focus. Ahead of the sold-out 2025 edition (14-17 August), Euronews Culture caught up with festival director Fiona Stewart. Started in 2003, the festival saw Stewart come on board in 2006. She has seen the festival's profile grow to one of the most acclaimed in the UK. All 25,000 tickets sold out within 35 seconds when they went online in October last year. About a 10th the size of Glastonbury, fans of Green Man come for its curated line-up of artists, its family and queer-friendly atmosphere, and its stunning placement in one of Wales' most picturesque national parks. 'I love looking at people's faces,' Stewart says of the Green Man audience. 'We spend all year thinking about things which are going to entertain them and surprise them, so actually seeing them react to it and enjoy it. I get such a massive kick out of it.' What fans might not know is that Green Man is one of the biggest festivals that can still claim to be fully independent. While other major music events have been bought out by large companies, Green Man is run entirely by its own team. Keeping Green Man independent has always been of great importance to Stewart, whose title isn't just Director but also owner. Prior to Green Man, Stewart worked for The Big Chill, and she learned from her experiences with the English festival. 'That was a lovely festival. A really, really beautiful festival,' she tells Euronews Culture. 'And I saw that become very damaged over time.' Indeed, The Big Chill went into voluntary liquidation in 2009 and was then sold to Festival Republic, who cancelled the festival outright after its 2011 edition. Festival Republic owns multiple major UK festivals including Reading and Leeds, Latitude, Wireless and Download, as well as Longitude in Ireland and Germany's Lollapalooza. Between 2002 and 2012, they also were the operators of Glastonbury. Part of Live Nation Entertainment – the entertainment company that has been criticised for its widespread control of music venues and ticketings – Festival Republic runs efficient, enjoyable but, crucially, profit-driven events. 'They're about market share and shareholders and investment, and it's not their fault. Legally, they have to be generating money. And they do some amazing events. They do lots of things I couldn't do, and they employ a lot of people, so it's not all bad, but it's run in a very different way,' Stewart says. Stewart still has to make sure Green Man is profitable enough to continue running, but without the same shareholder chain-of-command of a mega corporation like Live Nation, she's more free to make decisions that benefit the atmosphere of the festival. Fundamentally, being independent allows Green Man to court the artists they please, choosing quality and experience over established star power. Discovery is at the heart of the experience, wandering between the charming walled garden stage into tents to find the next Self Esteem or Michael Kiwanuka. For many acts across the weekend, Green Man is a potential launchpad. That doesn't mean to say they don't attract big names. This year's line-up also includes heavy hitters like Beth Gibbons, Perfume Genius, Panda Bear and CMAT, as well as critically acclaimed emerging talents like Nilüfer Yanya, English Teacher and Been Stellar. Stewart doesn't handle the curation directly ('I'm too old, quite frankly') but entrusts it to a team of curators, each covering music, spoken word, comedy, performing arts and more. They are all totally immersed in their areas with great relationships in the industry. 'I just say, as long as we can afford it and you and it's not gonna cause a problem, then you can book it.' Opening the weekend this year, Northern Irish rap group Kneecap have been the only source of a potential problem. The group have been at the centre of multiple controversies after footage emerged of them allegedly calling for MPs to be killed. Band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was also charged by the Metropolitan Police with a terror offence after allegedly displaying the flag of proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a gig. The Welsh government condemned their actions, but many artists – including those on this year's line-up – have signed letters in favour of Kneecap's freedom of expression. Ó hAnnaidh, known by his stage name Mo Chara, is set to next appear in court on 20 August, three days after Green Man Festival finishes for 2025. Due to the ongoing legal proceedings, Green Man declined to comment on Kneecap's inclusion on the line-up. Green Man's silence still puts the festival at odds with other festivals and venues. Kneecap were quickly dropped from line-ups at German festivals Hurricane and Southside, Hungary's Sziget festival, as well as multiple dates in the UK - including TRNSMT in Scotland. Line-up aside, Green Man's independence also gives Stewart and her team the opportunity to tailor the experience more directly to people's tastes. They haven't been forced to sell their pouring rights to a major alcohol brand, so can run a locally sourced Welsh beer festival within the grounds. At a grassroots level, Green Man supports local businesses and provides jobs to people in the area as much as possible. It's all part of a community aspect that feeds the unique atmosphere. Inclusivity is also a priority, from the annual Pride March to receiving the gold standard in accessibility. However, there are downsides to their independence. While major corporations can insure themselves against trouble, when there's a crisis it's much harder for an independently-run organisation to keep afloat. COVID-19 comes to mind. 'I lost about £800,000 (€920,000) that year because we sold out early and like lots of businesses, I tried to buy everything early to get prices down. So we lost that money completely,' Stewart says. As festivals are ephemeral and without a solid asset, she struggled to get a loan to ensure success. It was the exact situation that led to many other events selling their trademarks to the big corporations. However, Stewart was able to keep Green Man running and independent, thanks in part to government help that took a long time to be given. Since the pandemic, insurance, artists, and utilities have all gone up in price. Yet Green Man still remains - all without the major backing of companies like Live Nation. Green Man's continued support of emerging artists over single big-ticket headliners, support of local businesses, and prioritisation of people's experience has kept it as one of the top events of the year. 2025's Green Man Festival takes place from 14 – 17 August - Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, Wales.
Extra.ie
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
How one Irish music fan's viral post highlighted gaps in concert accessibility
Irish music fan Jennifer Loughlin was left heartbroken after being forced to sell her tickets to Olivia Rodrigo's upcoming Dublin gig, despite declaring her accessible needs to gig organisers. Jennifer, who lives with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and documents her chronic illness online, made the decision after being told that organisers couldn't guarantee space for her and her companion on the disability platform. This unexpected development not only dashed her hopes of attending the event but has also raised concerns about the adequacy of accommodations for disabled attendees at large-scale outdoor concerts in Ireland. Irish music fan Jennifer Loughlin was left heartbroken after being forced to sell her tickets to Olivia Rodrigo's upcoming Dublin gig, despite declaring her accessible needs to gig organisers. Pic: Instagram Chatting to Jennifer, 25, detailed the strenuous back and forth that occurred when she attempted to secure tickets, and why she chose to speak out publicly on the matter 'When the tickets went on sale I tried to purchase an accessible ticket + companion ticket but the only accessible tickets that showed were wheelchair only. I emailed Festival Republic in November 2024 enquiring about accessible seating for Olivia Rodrigo in Marlay Park and I made it known to them that I have permission to purchase accessible tickets as I have a registered AAR Number with Ticketmaster but the only tickets that were coming up was wheelchair only. 'I stated that I don't require a wheelchair, I only require a seat to sit down, to use the accessible facilities and a companion and I asked them to advise on what to do. I was desperate to see Olivia Rodrigo as I had tried 3 times with no luck on securing tickets but I did not want to take a wheelchair ticket away from someone who really needed it and wanted to enjoy the show,' she added. Chatting to Jennifer, 25, detailed the strenuous back and forth that occurred when she attempted to secure tickets, and why she chose to speak out publicly on the matter 'A friend of a friend reached out to me selling her spare general admission ticket and I decided to take it as I really wanted to see Olivia, Festival Republic then emailed me back in April 2025 apologising for the long delay in their email response and said ' If you ended up purchasing the accessible tickets, then there is no further action necessary and we will be in touch closer to the show with an update. For those who purchased a general admission ticket but have an AAR number and require the accessible facilities we ask you to fill out a form with your verified details so we can assist you further, Please add your details to our mailing list and we will reach out closer to the event with more information ' I filled out their form providing all my details including my ticket master AAR number & added my email to their mailing list.' While Jennifer went through all the appropriate procedures to ensure she could attend the concert safely and comfortably, she was later informed that access to the designated accessible viewing platform could not be guaranteed. This left her facing the difficult decision to give up her place at the event, due to uncertainty around whether the basic accommodations she needs would be available. 'On the 30th of May 2025 I received an email from Festival Republic regarding accessibility in which they stated in their email that 'registering with Ticketmaster does not guarantee use of the access facilities as this is due to capacity. Our viewing platform has a strict 1+1 policy, meaning if it is full you will need to wait until someone has left before being able to avail of use. If the platform is at capacity, companions may be asked to step to the back or off the platform to allow customers with accessibility requirements to make use of the facility' 'I was shocked & disappointed that Festival Republic were not guaranteeing those who are registered with an AAR number with Ticketmaster to be able to use the accessible facilities due to capacity issues and I was also shocked that due to capacity issues they could not guarantee that you and your companion could stay together, that they were suggesting that due to capacity issues your companion may be asked to step off the platform or be moved to the back. 'Being able to use the accessible facilities is so important to me and my condition and I believe that if you are registered with Ticketmaster and have an AAR number you should be guaranteed to be able to use the accessible facilities.' 'With my medical condition I have daily episodes which can be triggered by anything such as eating, heat, movement, standing, lights etc. My episodes can come unexpectedly at any time and my blood pressure will drop, my heart will race and I will feel like I am going to pass out or faint,' Jennifer explained. Irish music fan Jennifer Loughlin was left heartbroken after being forced to sell her tickets to Olivia Rodrigo's upcoming Dublin gig, despite declaring her accessible needs to gig organisers. Pic:'With my condition I have had episodes where I have fallen and hit my head and not known where I am, leaving me vulnerable. It is important that my companion stays with me to prevent me from hitting my head or injuring myself, so the suggestion that due to capacity issues that you may be separated from your companion or that your companion could be asked to step off the platform or to the back of the platform would leave me in such a dangerous and vulnerable position.' Understandably upset and disappointed, Jennifer turned to social media to share her experience and draw attention to the wider issue of accessibility at live events. She felt it was important not just to voice her own frustration, but to highlight how disabled fans are often treated as an afterthought, even when they follow all the correct procedures. By speaking out online, she hoped to raise awareness about the barriers disabled concertgoers continue to face — and to push for more reliable, inclusive planning from promoters and venues alike. 'I was heartbroken and devastated, I have tried many times to see Olivia Rodrigo and I have had no luck, but at the end of the day my safety comes first and I cannot take the risk.' After Jennifer's video gained traction online, Festival Republic — the promoter behind the Marlay Park concert — became aware of her situation and concerns. Representatives from the company reached out to acknowledge her experience, offering her complimentary VIP tickets to Olivia Rodrigo's Dublin gig. The VIP tickets, which come with enhanced access and amenities, were intended to ensure Jennifer could enjoy the concert with greater comfort and ease. 'We will always try our best to accommodate everyone's requirements, and customers who fill out the mailing list will have guaranteed access to the dedicated toilets and the Accessible parking – but the platform is the only limited part of this process,' the email stated. 'We wish we could accommodate everyone on the platform but it is simply not possible. At the moment, we have a higher than usual amount of people with registered AAR numbers who were unable to get Accessible tickets reaching out to us specifically for Olivia Rodrigo and while in ideal world we could have a platform with space for everyone and their companion, Marlay Park is a greenfield site with limited space. 'While the platform is sold out and at capacity, we have made the decision to extend the area around the platform and offer ground level viewing for additional Accessible customers,' they added. While the offer was welcomed, it also underscored the need for consistent, equitable access from the outset — not just reactive solutions after public pressure. For Jennifer, the gesture was meaningful, but she remained focused on advocating for more reliable accessibility for all disabled fans, not just those whose stories go viral. have reached out to Festival Republic for comment.
RTÉ News
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Láthair champála Ghaeltachta le filleadh ar an bPicnic Leictreach
Ardán Gaeilge sa Chollchoill agus Láthair Champála Ghaeltachta ag EP mar chuid d'fheachtas Croí na Féile le Conradh na Gaeilge. Beidh Croí na Féile, feachtas de chuid Chonradh na Gaeilge, faoi bhláth arís ag an bPicnic Leictreach agus arís eile beidh deis ag lucht campála a bpubaill a chrochadh i gcomhluadar na nGael sa láthair oifigiúil champála, an Láthair Ghaeltachta. A bhuíochas le tacaíocht ó Festival Republic beidh Croí na Féile ag cur an Ghaeilge i lár an aonaigh ag EP arís i mbliana. Tabharfaidh suíomh an champa deis do dhaoine a gcuid Gaeilge a úsáid le linn an deireadh seachtaine. Tá An Láthair Ghaeltachta ann le deis a thabhairt do dhaoine an teanga a chur ag Croí na Féile agus taitneamh a bhaint as spás le campálaithe Gaeilge eile le linn an deireadh seachtaine, le ticéid díolta amach don láthair le blianta beaga anuas. Leanfar leis an mbéim ar chúrsaí athchúrsála agus aire don timpeallacht sa Láthair Ghaeltachta i mbliana, le háiseanna athchúrsála agus eolas maidir leis an láthair - agus an domhan! - a choinneáil glan. Ag labhairt faoin bhféile, dúirt Orlaith Nic Ghearailt, Conradh na Gaeilge: "Tá lúcháir orainn tacaíocht a fháil ó Festival Republic agus láthair champála na Gaeltachta agus an t-ardán sa Chollchoill a thabhairt thar nais go Electric Picnic arís an samhradh seo. Fágann a dtacaíocht leanúnach gur féidir le lucht na féile bheith ag súil le go leor ceoltóirí Gaelacha a chloisteáil i rith na deireadh seachtaine sa Collchoil (Hazelwood) agus is féidir leo clárú don láthair champála Ghaeltachta freisin." Dúirt Melvin Benn, Stiúrthóir Bainistíochta Festival Republic: "Mar an fhéile cheoil agus ealaíon is mó in Éirinn, tá sé tábhachtach dúinne go bhfuil ról lárnach ag an nGaeilge ag Electric Picnic. Ag obair le Conradh na Gaeilge le blianta beaga anuas tá méadú tagtha ar líon na n-ealaíontóirí Gaeilge a bhíonn ag an bPicnic agus i mbliana beidh láithreacht níos mó fós ag an láthair champála Ghaeltachta ag an bhféile. Tá súil againn go n-ardóidh seo ar fad, mar aon le tionscadail eile a bhfuilimid ag obair orthu, feiceálacht na Gaeilge ag Electric Picnic agus go dtabharfaidh sé deis do dhaoine a gcuid Gaeilge a úsáid ar feadh an deireadh seachtaine." Clárúchán don Láthair Champála Ghaelach: Tugann Conradh na Gaeilge cuireadh do lucht freastail Electric Picnic teacht agus fanacht sa láthair champála Ghaeltachta, áit ina mbeidh an Ghaeilge mar phríomhtheanga labhartha le ceol, craic agus cannaí i measc na nGael ag an bhféile. Ticéid ar fáil trí Ticketmaster.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Reading Festival organisers quizzed over waste
The organisers of one of the UK's largest music festivals have been grilled over the tonnes of waste and tents that are left behind each year. Reading Festival attracts tens of thousands of people to Little John's Farm in the Berkshire town on the August bank holiday weekend every year. The event takes place with the blessing of Reading councillors, who in turn receive a report each year allowing them to scrutinise the organisers. Festival Republic, which runs Reading and Leeds festivals, reported the 2024 edition saw a reduction in the amount of waste left on the previous year. The organisers said 702 tonnes of waste was produced, down from 780 tonnes in 2023. Of that, 71 tonnes of tents were left last year compared to the 80 tonnes left in 2023. Labour councillor Jan Gavin told a meeting it was "really heartening" to see what she called the "improvements in the sustainability elements of the festival". Referencing images of the site showing hundreds of abandoned tents, she said: "It seemed to me that there was a vast number of tents left, as there is year after year." Ms Gavin also requested an estimate for the number of people responsible for leaving their tents. As well as reviewing last year's festival, councillors also pushed organisers to encourage festival-goers to be more responsible. "One of the most pernicious misconceptions is that if you leave your tent, it will be donated, reused, it will go to a homeless person," Labour councillor Adele Barnett-Ward said. A Festival Republic representative told the meeting it would be "difficult to count" the number of people leaving their tents behind, with tracking being a time consuming process. "The message is front and foremost 'take your tent home'," the representative said. "We do really work hard to say you have to physically take it home with you, or hand it in to our donation points." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Festival clean-up under way In Pictures: Reading Festival 2024 Watch: Drone video shows Reading Festival aftermath Reading Borough Council Festival Republic
BBC News
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Reading Festival challenged over abandoned tents and waste
The organisers of one of the UK's largest music festivals have been grilled over the tonnes of waste and tents that are left behind each Festival attracts tens of thousands of people to Little John's Farm in the Berkshire town on the August bank holiday weekend every event takes place with the blessing of Reading councillors, who in turn receive a report each year allowing them to scrutinise the Republic, which runs Reading and Leeds festivals, reported the 2024 edition saw a reduction in the amount of waste left on the previous year. The organisers said 702 tonnes of waste was produced, down from 780 tonnes in that, 71 tonnes of tents were left last year compared to the 80 tonnes left in 2023. Labour councillor Jan Gavin told a meeting it was "really heartening" to see what she called the "improvements in the sustainability elements of the festival".Referencing images of the site showing hundreds of abandoned tents, she said: "It seemed to me that there was a vast number of tents left, as there is year after year."Ms Gavin also requested an estimate for the number of people responsible for leaving their well as reviewing last year's festival, councillors also pushed organisers to encourage festival-goers to be more responsible."One of the most pernicious misconceptions is that if you leave your tent, it will be donated, reused, it will go to a homeless person," Labour councillor Adele Barnett-Ward said.A Festival Republic representative told the meeting it would be "difficult to count" the number of people leaving their tents behind, with tracking being a time consuming process."The message is front and foremost 'take your tent home'," the representative said."We do really work hard to say you have to physically take it home with you, or hand it in to our donation points." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
