Boardmasters, an admittedly sweet-sounding music festival and surf event in the startlingly beautiful Cornwall (UK), was been canceled due to severe weather just hours before it was set to begin.

The festival was scheduled to be headlined by Wu-Tang Clan, Florence + The Machine and FOALS, with side-stage sets from acts like Claude Von Stroke, Sub Focus b2b Wilkinson, and Dennis Ferrer.

While the announcement leaves would-be attendees disappointed, many of which heard of the news on their way to the festival, the cancellation also emphasizes the financial impact that summer festivals have on the small towns that host them, or in this case, don’t.

Kim Conchie, chief executive of Cornwall’s Chamber of Commerce told the press that the festival’s cancellation was “a bitter, bitter blow” to the local economy, mentioning losses of up to 16 million pounds.

One business claimed that an order of “several thousand” Cornish pasties (large steak and potato-filled puff-pastries) had been canceled last minute, while another had ordered more than 500 ponchos and tents to supply to festival-goers.  

“It’s three days of maximum trade and canceling it has a massive, massive knock-on effect for all the businesses in town,” according to Cornwall councilor Oliver Monk, who also mentioned that Boardmasters is typically “like Christmas” for the local community.

Festival organizers consulted local and regional safety advisors as well as police and emergency services before making their final decision based on the safety of performers and attendees.

Boardmasters confirmed, via their website, that those who purchased tickets to the event will receive a full refund for the face value of their ticket.

H/T: BBC

Tags: boardmasters

Categories: News