Livestock Music Festival takes place every year at Forty Hall Farm but the 2024 event is said to be in jeopardy

Livestock is now in its eighth year — credit Livestock

The organisers of a long-running Enfield music festival have issued an urgent appeal after “alarming” slow ticket sales for this year’s event put it at risk.

Livestock Music Festival has been held at Forty Hall Farm for the past 13 years on a not-for-profit basis but wet weather last year hit the event’s income and this year’s ticket sales have put the “economic viability” of the event at risk.

Making an urgent appeal in their latest newsletter, Livestock’s organisers warn: “The independent live music sector is under extreme economic pressure and we unfortunately, like many others, are suffering under the pressures of spiralling costs and the cost-of-living crisis.

“Costs for much of the festival infrastructure, bands and other services we need to make great, safe and accessible events have gone up rapidly in the last few years in a climate where we have not been able to increase prices to our visitors to keep up with these changes. If we had matched increases in costs to increases in ticket prices a standard festival ticket would be over £40, it is currently £32.50.

“This has brought us to a difficult juncture. We have a date coming soon where we must seriously consider the economic viability of the 2024 festival, as ticket sales this year are not keeping up with usual trends and in fact are falling behind at an alarming rate. We appreciate this is not unique to us and we are aware of over 40 similar events nationally which have already either gone out of business or been forced to postpone until next year.

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“We appreciate that some of that may be due to us being forced to review our policies regarding alcohol due to safety and licensing concerns. But the potential shortfall is much greater than that. This has been compounded by two factors, the rain last year caused a significant financial loss on the day, coupled with slow sales this year we are in a precarious financial position.”

Livestock is currently due to take place on Saturday 27th July. The organisers are now appealing for people who might have intended to pay at the gate to instead buy tickets up front.

They add: “We are reaching out to you to ask one thing. If you are waiting to buy tickets to see what the weather or something else might be like later in the month, please consider buying now. If we do not reach a certain target in the next week, we will have a difficult decision to make.

“We are working hard to bring the great event we know people want, hopefully we will see you all there on July 27th!”

Livestock is known for hosting many great covers bands across different genres, as well local up-and-coming acts. This year’s line-up includes The Good Earth, Brides, Frankie Connoly, Connor Selby, Matt Kent and Liv Lester, The Early Swerve, Ceolini, Brooke Law, The Vipers, Eazy Queen, The Ukulele Ska Collective, DJ Dave Flack, DJ Fred (8 Bit Society) and more.

To buy tickets for this year’s Livestock:
Visit tickettailor.com/events/livestockmusic

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