The man behind the Isle of Wight Festival has said the event WILL be going ahead this year.
The music event was cancelled last year - and moved to September this year - because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking to Audio Media International, John Giddings has assured music fans that the festival will be happening.
John has also expressed his anger and dismay at the lack of financial support from the Government for the live music and entertainments industry.
He said:
“The bottom line is, we’re being treated like second class citizens.
"They’re allowing the Grand Prix, the tennis, the football – but all those events are financed by TV income, the audience is peripheral.
"We can only do shows if we can sell tickets to pay for the costs, but we’re last in the queue. We have to beg to have test events, which is pathetic."
There is still no word on the long-awaited Government-backed COVID insurance scheme, that would allow more events to gamble on taking place.
But John said the Seaclose Park event – backed by Live Nation – will go ahead regardless.
He continued:
“Over my dead body will it not occur, and I don’t intend dying in the near future, believe you me. We are prepared to take the risk – you should phone me in October to see if I’m bankrupt or not!”
John says it costs £10 million to stage his festival and added that he would be happy to implement vaccine passports, testing programmes and other protocols if that’s what it takes to allow events to go ahead.
John added:
“I’m worried about next year because there’s a knock-on effect where there is going to be twice as many shows as normal, because everything’s moved.
“There’s going to be 10 to 12 stadium tours in June/July and more festivals than you’ve had hot dinners – although some of them will have bitten the dust, because they can’t take the risk anymore. Are people going to buy enough tickets to keep the industry alive when there’s twice as much to go and see? I don’t know the answer, I just know how busy next year is.”
You can read the full story with Audio Media International here.
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