Latest news with #WannaseeLtd
Daily Record
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Hawkwind to headline Back Doune the Rabbit Hole as they replace The Fratellis
The legendary space rock group have been announced as the Saturday night headliners on the Back Doune the Rabbit Hole (BDTRH) music festival, after The Fratellis pulled out. The iconic English rock band Hawkwind has been confirmed as the Saturday night headliners for the Back Doune the Rabbit Hole (BDTRH) music festival, stepping in to replace The Fratellis who had to pull out from their planned performance. As pioneers of space rock, Hawkwind is set to captivate festival-goers at the revamped event near Stirling. In a statement released by the BDTRH organisers, they expressed their excitement, saying: "We're thrilled to announce that the legendary Hawkwind will headline the Saturday night of Back Doune the Rabbit Hole 2025. "One of the greatest live bands around, Hawkwind are known for their immersive, mind-bending shows. Get ready to be completely transported with a set that's guaranteed to be out of this world." "They join our final line up alongside some fantastic new additions including The Sherlocks, Clearwater Creedence Revival, Ohasis and The Complete Stone Roses. "The countdown is officially on! We couldn't be more excited for what's coming to Cardross Estate this August." However, not all news was positive as they noted changes to the lineup, adding: "Unfortunately, due to scheduling and logistical conflicts, Dodgy and The Feeling will no longer be joining us this year but we hope to welcome them back in the future." Widely regarded as trailblazers in the space rock genre, Hawkwind stands out even among contemporaries such as Pink Floyd, UFO, and Parliament. Over the years, Hawkwind has seen various members come and go, including the legendary Motorhead frontman Lemmy at one point in their storied history. However, only the leader, singer, guitarist and founding member, Dave Brock, remains from Hawkwind's original lineup since its inception in 1969. Earlier this month, Glaswegian rockers The Fratellis withdrew from their top billing due to a dispute regarding an unpaid deposit. BDTRH has undergone an overhaul after previous operators – called Doune the Rabbit Hole – collapsed into liquidation amid a storm over unpaid musicians and contractors. Steering the course for BDTRH are the new faces at the helm: businessman Brian Harkin, with Colin Black and Paul Aspey of Rock Asset Management. The team behind BDTRH has pointed to a third-party promoter for the disruption. This promoter, Wannasee Ltd, is amidst proceedings to liquidate. A representative for Wannasee Ltd earlier this month clarified the situation, saying: "To clarify, Wannasee Ltd has never held a shareholding or directorship in Back Doune the Rabbit Hole, nor has it ever had any ownership of the event. "Wannasee Ltd is now in the process of entering liquidation following wider industry challenges affecting its own portfolio of events. "We wish the team at Back Doune Ltd every success in delivering what we're sure will be a fantastic festival this summer." BDTRH is scheduled to take place atthe Cardross Estate, Port of Menteith, near Stirling, from August 1-3. Among the roster of acts expected to grace the reinvigorated festival is Liverpool's indie darling, The Zutons, set to close out the Sunday night festivities. Marc Almond of Soft Cell fame is slated to take center stage on Friday evening, ensuring a star-studded kick-off to the weekend's events. Scouting for Girls, the Bay City Rollers, The Skids and Newton Faulkner are also set to take the stage.
The Courier
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Back Doune The Rabbit Hole to return in 2026 as bosses say Fratellis pulling out was 'completely out of their control'
Back Doune the Rabbit Hole will return in 2026. Organisers of the Stirlingshire music festival are banking on this year's revival to be a success, despite Saturday headliners The Fratellis suddenly pulling out. They cancelled their set, due to take place at the Cardross Estate event over the weekend of August 1-3, after third-party promoter Wannasee failed to pay them their deposit. Wannasee is currently entering liquidation, with several music festivals across England called off as a result. The Fratellis' replacement has yet to be announced, but Back Doune the Rabbit Hole bosses are keen to distance themselves from the debacle given the festival's history. Doune the Rabbit Hole ran for a decade before it was cancelled in 2023, owing £800,000 to performers and workers. Brian Harkin is behind the festival's 2025 return, along with Colin Black and Paul Aspey of Rock Artist Management. Brian told The Courier the news that The Fratellis had not been paid their deposit was a 'shock' and 'unexpected'. He confirmed the rest of the event is being run in-house, with a replacement headliner to be decided this week. Mr Harkin explained: 'We had been paying them [Wannasee] the deposits for the performers they had booked. 'Then we found out last week that it had not been done when the company went into administration.' Mr Harkin said: 'Obviously, the reason this has come as such a major blow is because of what has happened previously with the event. 'It was the last thing we needed. 'Everything had been going absolutely great. 'Everyone is really excited for the event to go ahead again. 'We have at all stages tried to reassure everyone that we are an experienced team in this business. 'What happens with external suppliers is completely out of our control to a degree. 'We didn't see this coming at all – nobody in the industry did.' The organisers have pledged their dedication to Back Doune the Rabbit Hole being a 'long-term event' and hope to give back to the local community. Brian added: 'This year was about getting the festival back on the map and being budget conscious in terms of what we were putting on, so we went for the four stages. 'Next year we'll have an introducing stage for up-and-coming Scottish bands.' A spokesperson for Wannasee said: 'To clarify, Wannasee Ltd has never held a shareholding or directorship in Back Doune the Rabbit Hole, nor has it ever had any ownership of the event. 'Wannasee Ltd is now in the process of entering liquidation following wider industry challenges affecting its own portfolio of events. 'We wish the team at Back Doune Ltd every success in delivering what we're sure will be a fantastic festival this summer.'
Daily Record
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Promoters blamed for The Fratellis cancelling Scots festival appearance set to enter liquidation
Third-party promoter Wannasee Ltd has confirmed it "is now in the process of entering liquidation" after being blamed for the band withdrawing from their headline slot. The third-party promoter blamed for The Fratellis withdrawing from their headline slot at the forthcoming Back Doune the Rabbit Hole festival is on the brink of liquidation. The 'Chelsea Dagger' hitmakers pulled out of their planned performance at the revamped festival this August, pointing to the failure of the promoters to "fulfil contractual obligations to pay deposits to confirm the band's appearance". Back Doune Ltd, the festival's organisers, pointed the finger at a third-party promoter, Wannasee Ltd, for the band's withdrawal. This week, Wannasee Ltd has confirmed its involvement in the festival's launch and indicated through a spokesperson that the company "is now in the process of entering liquidation". Despite the set back, Back Doune Ltd directors – Brian Harkin, Colin Black, and Paul Aspey – have stressed their commitment to proceed with the festival. They assured fans last week: "We know that is disappointing news. We feel it too. But we want to reassure you that this is not part of a wider problem with the event. Everything else is on track, and we are already working on a brilliant new Saturday night headliner." They added: "In the early planning stages, we brought in external support from several individuals to help with logistics, ticketing and artist bookings. Some of those individuals were affiliated with the Wannasee Group. "For many in the live events world, that name is now associated with a series of cancelled festivals and serious concerns about mismanagement. "We want to be really clear that these individuals were never directors or owners of Back Doune the Rabbit Hole. At the time, there were no obvious signs of the problems that later came to light at the other events they were involved with. "Like many others, we have had to deal with the consequences of how they operated, and that has included the cancellation of The Fratellis performance." Wannasee Ltd this week confirmed that it was involved in assisting with the launch of Back Doune the Rabbit Hole, adding that it was "working collaboratively with the team at Back Doune Ltd while they got the event up and running". A spokesperson for Wannasee Ltd said: "To clarify, Wannasee Ltd has never held a shareholding or directorship in Back Doune the Rabbit Hole, nor has it ever had any ownership of the event. "Wannasee Ltd is now in the process of entering liquidation following wider industry challenges affecting its own portfolio of events. "We wish the team at Back Doune Ltd every success in delivering what we're sure will be a fantastic festival this summer." Wannasee, known for promoting its own festivals, has had to cancel their events amid the company's difficulties. Back Doune the Rabbit Hole director Brian Harkin reflected on the festival's challenges last week, saying: "This has been a challenging moment, but our commitment to the festival and its future hasn't changed. "We took on Back Doune the Rabbit Hole because we believe in the power of independent music events and the community they bring together. "Being independent means we are able to stay true to our values and keep building something real, even when things get tough. "The rest of the lineup is solid, and we're focused on delivering the weekend we've promised. We're in this for the long haul, and doing everything we can to create a festival that our audience, artists, team and local community can be proud of." The eagerly anticipated event is set to take place at the Cardross Estate in Port of Menteith, Stirling, with the dates locked in for August 1-3. Top-billed names so far include The Zutons, who are set to headline Sunday, and Marc Almond leading Friday night's festivities, while attendees await the announcement of the Saturday headliner which will fill the spot left by The Fratellis. The line-up also boasts Scouting for Girls, The Feeling, Newton Faulkner, Skids, The Bay City Rollers and others. This year marks the inaugural edition of the revamped festival, taking the baton from its former entity, the Doune the Rabbit Hole Festival. Doune The Rabbit Hole had previously secured its spot as a highlight within Stirling's cultural agenda before encountering difficulties and inevitably folding. The festival was previously managed by Jamie Murray – who accumulated nearly £1million in debts, leaving only £2.38 in the company account to pay creditors. When Mr Murray closed the company behind the festival in 2022, numerous performers, staff and businesses were left unpaid. His father, the jailed Salmond blogger Craig Murray, assumed control over the 2023 festival under a new company, aiming to clear the debts owed by his son's former firm using profits generated by the festival. However, the event was scrapped a month prior to its scheduled date, leaving creditors in the dark.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Northern Kin festival cancelled after efforts to save it fail
A festival has been cancelled after attempts to save it did not succeed, organisers Kin was due to take place at Thornley Hall farm, in County Durham, at the beginning of Wannasee Ltd had previously said discussions were under way to preserve the festival after 10 of its other events, including Stone Valley North and Kubix, were cancelled at the end of a social media post on Wednesday confirmed Northern Kin would not be going ahead, despite the team having worked "around the clock" to find a way to run it. "We are heartbroken to confirm that Northern Kin will not be going ahead this year," the post said."The team have been working around the clock the past couple of weeks trying to find a way to run the festival, but despite our best efforts, we are unable to do so."It joins Sunderland's Kubix and Monument festivals, Stone Valley North in Thornley, County Durham, Wannasee Penrith, Wannasee South, Jukebox Sunderland and Jukebox Bingley, Sign of the Times, Stone Valley South and Stone Valley Midlands in being Ltd had previously said it was "not able to continue" with the events and was in discussions with liquidators, but added discussions to preserve Lindisfarne Festival and Northern Kin were under company has been contacted for a comment. Northern Kin previously faced criticism from fans over traffic problems and issues with toilets, water supply and disabled access at its previous site in Ushaw, County Durham. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Wannasee cancelled festivals leave ticket holders frustrated
Ticket holders have spoken of their disappointment and frustration after a number of festivals were cancelled, leaving people hundreds of pounds out of pocket. Sunderland's Kubix and Monument festivals, Stone Valley North in Thornley, County Durham, and Wannasee Penrith were officially cancelled on Saturday following days of speculation over the future of the events. Organiser Wannasee Ltd said it was "not able to continue" with the events and advised people to contact ticket providers or card issuers for refunds. Ticket provider Skiddle said its "repeated requests" to organisers to release the money for refunds to be processed had gone "unheard". Skiddle is offering full refund in the form of credit for other events. A face value refund could also be requested, but it is not possible to confirm when the money would be returned. CM Tickets is asking people to contact the organisers who are "currently reviewing their plans". Wannasee Ltd said a difficult trading environment and "sudden collapse in customer confidence" had left the business "unable to recover".Among other festivals cancelled were Wannasee South, Jukebox Sunderland and Jukebox Bingley, Sign of the Times, Stone Valley South and Stone Valley Midlands. A spokesperson for Skiddle said it was not "unusual" for ticket outlets to forward funds to organisers as suppliers and artists require deposits and payments ahead of events. They added: "We have made repeat requests for the funds to be returned to us which have so far gone unheard, which means we are unable to directly return these to our customers."Skiddle said despite having security measures, getting the money back could take a long time and "may not result in the full funds returned" to the company. Wannasee Ltd has been contacted for a response. 'Banks footing the bill' Kevin Cooper was due to go to Monument Festival and had also rolled over tickets from the Stone Valley North 2024 event after it was postponed. "We're sitting waiting on £260 worth of tickets," he said."Even worse will be the suppliers of tents or people who've paid for pitches to provide food on site, or staging. Many of them will be well out of pocket."Mr Cooper, from Burnopfield, County Durham, said he was "annoyed and frustrated" with the cancellation and described it as "another hit on the music business" in the North said he had accepted Skiddle's offer for credits for alternative events and was waiting to hear back from his bank over a separate refund."I think ultimately we'll get some or all of our money back one way or another, which will probably annoy the banks because they'll end up no doubt footing the bill for it," he added. Another ticket holder from Durham, who asked not to be named, said the cancellation left her feel "terrible" after spending £700 on the festivals as part of celebrations for her 50th birthday. They were set to got to Stone Valley North and Kubix, as well as Lindisfarne Festival."You look forward to it all year round," she said."You plan it, you organise it. The festivals that we go to, we meet the same people every year, so you look forward to catching up with them all. "Your first worry is obviously money and then it's disappointment, real disappointment." She added she would try to claim a refund back from her bank. Wannasee Ltd said discussions to preserve Lindisfarne Festival and Northern Kin were under way. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
