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Latest News

Here are the latest news stories from the festival and event industry. Please also follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Have a news story to tell? Send it to [email protected] and do add us to your press list.

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June News From Wild Rumpus

June News From Wild Rumpus

8th June 2023

Wild Rumpus is what it says on the page. A glorious collection of music, arts, theatre, performance and children’s (fun)education. It is, they are, a bit Wild and certainly create a Rumpus. Read on for a 2023 programme of stuff!! Artist Residencies Our 2023 Artist Residency season has officially kicked off! We recently welcomed arts collective Earth-Bound to The Woods for a week-long st...

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Martyn’s Law (Protect Duty) DO NOT IGNORE THIS

Martyn’s Law (Protect Duty) DO NOT IGNORE THIS

8th June 2023

After a considerable amount of lobbying the people involved in writing the early stages of Martyn’s Law have finally given us the opportunity to have a read at the draft Bill. There is quite a lot to be said within the pages, but I really do recommend you have a look. It will go to consultation; it will then go to committees within parliament. It will then eventually be put before parliame...

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Powerful Thinking’s New Look Board reflects the Challenges and Needs of the Sector

Powerful Thinking’s New Look Board reflects the Challenges and Needs of the Sector

7th June 2023

In his latest blog, Tim Benson announces a new Board for Powerful Thinking, the not-for-profit, think-do tank focused on reducing the environmental impact of powering festivals and outdoor events. New Board members bring specialist event power sector knowledge from both consumer and supplier perspectives, promoting collaboration for low carbon power provision for festivals and events. On the co...

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Resource Spotlight: Festival Impact Reports

Resource Spotlight: Festival Impact Reports

6th June 2023

Festival organisers can use Sustainability Impact Reports to share their environmental and social strategy and benchmark the success of their initiatives and experiments. They are a chance to crunch the data and be transparent on impact with stakeholders; audience, artists, suppliers, crew and artists - as well as a chance to inspire other events to start taking action. Vision:2025 have made a l...

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Music Declares Emergency Launch Music Climate Pack

Music Declares Emergency Launch Music Climate Pack

6th June 2023

Music Declares Emergency launch a new and updated version of their Music Climate Pack available to all via this link. The pack offers information to those working in all areas of the music industry in how to make their business more sustainable and how to use their voice to support immediate action on the climate emergency. With contributions from professionals working across music, artists, an...

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Event Production Show Podcast Series: Replay EPS23

Event Production Show Podcast Series: Replay EPS23

5th June 2023

Enjoy audible versions of The Main Stage sessions from Event Production Show 2023, which took place at the ExCel Centre, London, 1-2 March. Find a full list of sessions on the Event Production website. You can also watch the “Sustainable Solutions Now” panel which explores the immediate initiatives, solutions and practices available to reduce the environmental impact of events:...

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Vision:2025 Supports Event Sustainability Live 2023

Vision:2025 Supports Event Sustainability Live 2023

4th June 2023

Vision:2025 is supporting the recently launched Event Sustainability Live, taking place at ExCeL, 15th & 16th November. We will be curating two panels, to promote sustainable practices with information to help expand the sustainable events community. Find out more on the Event Sustainability Live website....

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Ecolibrium Launch Green Travel and Transport Guide for Events

Ecolibrium Launch Green Travel and Transport Guide for Events

3rd June 2023

The fourth edition of ecolibrium’s Green Travel Guide for Festivals and Events is now available, packed with new information, case studies, and future transport trends. The guide has been updated in line with new best practice and research and provides expanded context on measuring travel impacts in line with the greenhouse gas protocol. With updated understanding of festival travel impac...

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Elevating Event Catering: The Game-Changing Benefits of Using Temporary Kitchens at Your Event

Elevating Event Catering: The Game-Changing Benefits of Using Temporary Kitchens at Your Event

2nd June 2023

Most caterers arrive at your site with all the kit they need. Then someone discovers they forgot the kitchen sink. Others have breakdowns, the kit not the caterers. So who do you call to help out? Planning and executing a successful event requires thorough attention to detail, especially when it comes to the catering operation. The ability to provide delicious, freshly prepared food to event gu...

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Save the Date and Sponsor Opportunities - Vision:2025 Sustainable Event Summit Returns to the Showman's Show

Save the Date and Sponsor Opportunities - Vision:2025 Sustainable Event Summit Returns to the Showman's Show

1st June 2023

The 8th edition Sustainable Event Summit returns to The Showman's Show, Weds 18th October 2023. Vision:2025 brings the community of sustainable event organisers together for a series of workshops and panels to share the latest in sustainable practices, with practical advice and learnings from this summer’s shows. Save the date to join the Summit for a free-to-access, programme, with expan...

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Vision:2025 Guest Blog: Selina Donald at The Blub on Accelerating a Circular Future

Vision:2025 Guest Blog: Selina Donald at The Blub on Accelerating a Circular Future

31st May 2023

In this month's Vision:2025 guest blog, Selina Donald, founder of The Bulb consultancy, gives insight into the three principles that the event industry needs to create circular future: Designing out waste and pollution; keeping materials and products in use; and regenerating natural systems – and how she has put them to practice through her work on the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Ce...

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More Names For Shrewsbury Folk Festival

More Names For Shrewsbury Folk Festival

30th May 2023

  Shrewsbury Folk Festival has announced the latest wave of artists for this year’s festival including Joachim Cooder, the first lady of Celtic music Moya Brennan and the first ever English gig for Nordic folk trio Dreamers’ Circus. Also added to the line up for the August Bank Holiday event are The Cathy Jordan Trio, Stolen From God – a ...

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Production Company, Serenityaudio, Gears Up For A Busy Summer Following Big Festival Contract Win

Production Company, Serenityaudio, Gears Up For A Busy Summer Following Big Festival Contract Win

30th May 2023

Wiltshire based production company Serenityaudio is preparing themselves for a busy festival season following the winning of big contracts including Chippenham Pride 2023 and the Devizes Arts Festival.  ​​Chippenham Pride 2023, a celebration of diversity and inclusion, will serve as an ideal platform for Serenityaudio to demonstrate their prowess in providing exceptional audio solution...

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Twinwood Festival 2023

Twinwood Festival 2023

24th May 2023

If you really need to get to a festival that is so so different. Try TWINWOOD (AFO member). Twinwood is the ultimate destination for vintage music enthusiasts and their 2023 line-up is set to be their most spectacular yet, featuring a huge array of superb live bands and other shows that you will be able to enjoy over the four days of the festival.  Look at this lot for a festival with a t...

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The Good News

The Good News

22nd May 2023

The Good News, many festivals are fighting their way to success. The Bad News some more have cancelled. It is certainly a tough year. Several people are reporting very slow ticket sales, but a determination to see it through and rebuild. I don’t think we have quite recovered from Covid, especially with the current economic climate. Lots of work to do and I wish you all success in the batt...

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Ticket Sales Not As Good As We Hoped

Ticket Sales Not As Good As We Hoped

21st May 2023

Ticket sales are not as good as we hoped, but in some areas success is on the horizon. Readers will remember my article on the shortfall on ticket sales, rising costs, low wages etc. This brought a very positive response from Nibley Festival where Neil Hasson tells us that Nibley is in its fifteenth year with a capacity of 5000 and last year (2022) came very close to sell-out. Compared to last ...

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Young People's Chance to Give Opinion

Young People's Chance to Give Opinion

20th May 2023

Commissioned by the Department of Education and the Department of Digital Culture, Media and Sport, a new project supporting children and young people to share their experiences of arts and culture and consider what they need to access and enjoy cultural and creative experiences, is underway. Those of you who engage with young people should encourage them to complete a ten-minute, online questi...

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Event Production Show Panel

Event Production Show Panel

19th May 2023

The Purple Guide has been spoken of many times in these pages; I represented AFO on this panel as part of main stage at the events production show earlier this year. Representatives from the Association of Festival Organisers, Events Industry Forum and the Local Authority Event Organiser Group explore updates to the Purple Guide and address the latest licensing issues. The Panel was&helli...

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ecolibrium Launches Green Travel Guide

ecolibrium Launches Green Travel Guide

18th May 2023

The fourth edition of ecolibrium’s Green Travel Guide for Festivals and Events is packed with new information, case studies and future transport trends, May 2023. ecolibrium, the charity on a mission to move low carbon travel to the heart of live events culture, has launched a new guide for 2023. It provides updated understanding of festival travel impacts, with inspiration for changes th...

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One More Before Winter (At Least in the Midlands)

One More Before Winter (At Least in the Midlands)

17th May 2023

Derby Folk Festival has been one of those autumn places to go when you thought the festival season was over. This year, still recovering from COVID and the Assembly rooms fire, the team have recognised the economic climate and offer a slightly smaller event, with a great line up and still that feeling of needing one more festival before winter sets in. This is it. See you in DERBY. A series of...

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