Councils expect summer of music festivals to boost economy by £550m

With Glastonbury officially set to kick off festival season today, councils are anticipating a summer of live music will boost local economies to the tune of £550 million.

Local authorities across the country have been working behind the scenes with festival organisers for months to help guarantee huge outdoor events this summer run smoothly.

Highways teams will be overseeing traffic diversions, trading standards officers will be ensuring festival goers are not ripped off buying counterfeit merchandise and environmental health workers will be checking that beer, burgers and other festival food and drink is up to scratch and that waste collection and toilet arrangements are working as planned.

In addition to the major household name events, more than 100,000 people will enjoy free outdoor festivals this summer, with chart-topping acts lining up for council-organised events.

Despite budget cutbacks, many councils have been able to keep their own festivals running this year by enlisting the support of local businesses.

Cllr Chris White, chair of the Local Government Association’s culture, tourism and sport board, said: “Going to a festival has become a staple of the British summer for millions. Our thriving festival scene is something we as a country should be immensely proud of. It puts us on the map as a capital of culture and contributes hundreds of millions of pounds to the economy.

“Councils play a key role in supporting and running festivals for music lovers up and down the country. From the months of planning beforehand to the moment the last reveller leaves the campsite, local authorities are involved every step of the way.

“It’s a measure of the importance of these events that, even in these times of austerity, local authorities have gone to great lengths to keep their own music festivals going, in some cases enlisting commercial sponsors. The money put into these festivals will be returned many times over in the boost it will bring to the local economy and, in the longer term, inspiring a whole new generation of young musicians.”

Some of the top council-run music festivals this summer will include:
One of the longest running and most famous folk festivals in the world, Cambridge Co-operative Folk Festival returns for a 47th year, from July 28 to 31 at Cherry Hinton Hall. The festival was started by Cambridge City Council in 1964. Stars at the 14,000 capacity event this year include Laura Marling, Richard Thompson and Rumer. www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk/
Summer Sundae Weekender at Leicester De Montfort Hall, celebrates its 11th year this year with headliners including The Maccabees, Newton Faulkner and McFly. The Leicester City Council-backed festival runs from August 12 to 14, and expects to attract a crowd of 7,000. It has previously been dubbed ‘The Grandson of Glastonbury’ by veteran DJ Steve Lamacq. www.summersundae.com

On August 28 and 29, Liverpool City Council will again be staging Mathew Street Music Festival – Europe’s largest free city centre music festival. The event features up-and-coming bands from across the globe playing at the street made famous by The Beatles’ legendary appearances at the Cavern Club back in the early 1960s. The event brought an estimated £20 million to the economy last year. www.mathewstreetfestival.org/
The Godiva Festival in Coventry runs from July 1 to 3. This year’s line-up features Heaven 17, Athlete, Sunshine Underground, Young Knives and Lethal Bizzle. The free festival has been put on by Coventry City Council annually since 1988, attracting crowds of 80,000 every year. www.godivafestival.com
One of the UK’s largest free outdoor pop parties takes place at Temple Newsam Park, Leeds, on July 31. Seventy thousand attended Party In The Park when it was held for the first time last year. It is co-organised by Leeds City Council and a local radio station. Chart-topping headliners this year include JLS, The Wanted, Jessie J and Tinchy Stryder. www.leeds.gov.uk/Leisure_and_culture/Arts_and_entertainment/party_in_the...

The two-day Morton Stanley Festival in Redditch drew a crowd of 7,500 last year with an eclectic line-up of indie bands including Hot Club de Paris and Minnaars. The Redditch Borough Council-organised event is being held again this year on August 20 and 21.
In Skegness, East Lindsey District Council will be staging the SO Festival for the third year. The free three-day event runs from July 22 to 24 and will feature dance, theatre, comedy and music with headline acts this year including Lee Evans and Lulu. www.sofestival.org
Sunderland City Council will be putting on three festivals this summer, culminating in the new Sunderland Folk Festival which will be held at venues throughout the city on the August Bank Holiday weekend. Headline acts confirmed so far include Cara Dillon, Jez Lowe and The Peatbog Faeries. www.sunderlandevents.co.uk/
In the South East, thousands are expected to enjoy the Create Music Festival, which pulled a crowd of 11,000 last year. The free event on July 24, organised by Ashford Borough Council and now in its 16th year, is headlined by a The Who tribute this year. www.ashford.gov.uk/create
Park Live, a free music festival for young bands in Telford & Wrekin, will be held on September 3 for the third year. The council-funded event gives young local rock and indie bands the chance to play an outdoor festival to a crowd of 6,000 at Telford Town Park.
Wirral Council and North Tyneside Council will both be putting on their first ever ‘teenagers only’ festivals this summer. Young guitar bands from Wirral are currently auditioning to star at Youthfest to be held in Vale Park, New Brighton on August 20. More information on the festival is available from: www.teenwirrral.com. The Event, a festival for 11 to 19-year-olds featuring acts of the same age, takes place at Segedunum Roman Fort in Wallsend on July 2. More information: www.northtyneside.gov.uk/youngmayor