The long-running festival has been cancelled

The popular and long-running Beverley Folk Festival has been cancelled after going into administration – meaning that those with advance tickets will be unable to acquire a refund.

The festival, which started in 1984 and was set to return to Beverley Racecourse for a sixth time in June, was due to see performances from the likes of Turin Brakes – with advance weekend tickets costing £110-£130. Now, the general future of the festival has been cast into doubt.

“It is with immense sadness and regret that we have to announce this year’s festival cannot go ahead,” a spokesman said in a statement.

“Beverley Folk Festival is a non-profit-making-organisation run by a dedicated team of volunteers. Unfortunately, we have recently discovered we have lost our primary source of funding, so we simply do not have the money to pay for the infrastructure of the performers.”

They continued: “We know there will be a lot of people who are as disappointed as we are, but we you will understand that under the circumstances in which we find ourselves, it is not possible to run the event.”

Now, after directors have placed it into a state of creditors’ voluntary liquidation, festival-goers are urged to talk to their card issuer for refunds.

“Unfortunately, the company is unable to refund those people who have bought tickets in advance of the festival,” the spokesman continued. “If you have made a deposit for or paid for goods or services by credit or debit card and the goods or services are not going to be received by the due date, you may be able to get your money back by claiming a refund from your card issuer.”

Speaking to the BBC, Chris Wade, who helped found the festival but has not been involved in it in recent years, said: “It’s like a part of my family it’s very sad to have lost it.

“I’m sure many people, musicians and audiences, will be very upset.”

The Proclaimers and Billy Bragg are among the names to have performed at Beverley Folk Festival over the years.</s>A popular folk festival has been cancelled in its 35th year after announcing it has gone into liquidation.

Organisers say people who have already bought tickets for Beverley Folk Festival will not get a refund, as the company which runs it is now in the hands of insolvency practitioners.

The festival was due to be held at Beverley Racecourse over the weekend of June 15 to 17.

Over 80 acts were scheduled including headliners Gretchen Peters and Turin Brakes.

Tickets had been on sale for £130 for the weekend with camping or £110 for the weekend without camping. Headline shows cost up to £25.

In a statement the directors offered their "deepest and most sincere" apologies to those owed money.

They added: "It is with immense sadness and regret that we have to announce that this year’s festival cannot go ahead.

"Beverley Folk Festival is a non-profit-making organisation, run by a dedicated team of volunteers. Unfortunately we have recently discovered that we have lost our primary source of funding so we simply do not have the money to pay for either the infrastructure or the performers.

"We know that there will be a lot of people who are as disappointed as we are but we hope you will understand that, under the circumstances in which we find ourselves, it is not possible to run the event."

They said the company had been placed into a creditors’ voluntary liquidation, adding: "Unfortunately the company is unable to refund those people who have bought tickets in advance of the festival.

"The directors, who are also volunteers, have taken the steps to place the company into a creditors’ voluntary liquidation as the company is insolvent.

"The directors have instructed a firm of licensed insolvency practitioners to assist them with this process and if you are owed money or have bought a ticket in advance then they will be in touch with you shortly."

Those who have paid by credit or debit card may be able to get a refund from the card issuer.

The directors thanked those who have supported Beverley Folk Festival over the years "especially the sponsors, funders, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Beverley Town Council and the hundreds of wonderful volunteers and artists."

It said the company had ceased to trade with immediate effect and any voicemail / messages would not be read or dealt with.

Their corporate recovery licensed insolvency practitioners are Redman Nichols Butler, The Chapel, Bridge Street, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 5DA Tel: 01377 257788</s>These are external links and will open in a new window

A long-running folk festival has been called off this year after the firm that runs it went bust.

Beverley Folk Festival, a non-profit-making organisation run by volunteers, said it had lost its "primary source of funding".

Organisers said they were unable to refund advance tickets. Weekend tickets cost £110.

The festival started in 1984 and was to be held for the sixth time at Beverley Racecourse in June.

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It is not known what the longer-term future of the festival might be.

The firm said it could not now fund the festival or pay the booked performers and had "ceased to trade with immediate effect".

It has been placed in liquidation as it is insolvent, and the directors offered "sincere apologies" to all those owed money.

Beverley Racecourse said it had supported the festival but had not been paid for hosting the 2017 festival so it was among the creditors.

Chris Wade, who helped found the festival but has not been involved in it in recent years, said: "It's like a part of my family it's very sad to have lost it.

"I'm sure many people, musicians and audiences, will be very upset."

A lot of "great volunteers and dedicated people had been involved", she said.

Previous festivals had attracted up to 4,000 people from all over the world, she added.

In recent years, well known acts such as the Proclaimers and Billy Bragg have performed alongside local names.

The festival was due to be held at the racecourse between Friday 15 and Sunday 17 June with a daily capacity of 2,500.

It used to be held at various venues in the town but in 2012 moved to a bigger stage at the racecourse.</s>The shock announcement that Beverley Folk Festival has gone into liquidation means many people will be missing out on a weekend of fun – but others will also be missing out on hundreds of pounds.

The directors of the festival, which was due to be held from June 15 to 17 at Beverley Racecourse, have blamed the loss of primary funding for the festival folding, but have revealed they will not be refunding any tickets.

Over the weekend, more than 80 acts were confirmed to perform, with camping tickets costing up to £130 per person.

Now, those people with tickets have been told to contact their credit or debit card suppliers for refunds.

On the Hull Daily Mail Facebook page, hundreds of people have expressed their disappointment at the news.

Chris Welsh said: “That’s a shame. Good job we didn’t have tickets,” and Jessica Hince agreed, saying: “It’s a shame. Was really looking forward to it.”

Anna Dinsdale hadn’t yet bought her tickets, but was “genuinely upset” by the news.

However, some people were more concerned as to the lack of refunds, and wondered where the money had gone.

One emailed the Mail saying it was an "absolute disgrace" it had been cancelled.

"I’m shocked to receive this, especially as it says there will be no refunds," they said.

"What a huge blow and a big embarrassment to the town of Beverley."

Shawn Robinson said: “So basically anyone wanting a refund has been told to ‘folk off’.”

Jerry Wiseman said: “Despite its popularity, it isn't 'self funding', which is a bit of a surprise, especially as bills from last year haven't even been paid??

"I wonder where the ticket money has gone from sales so far this year? Perhaps an independent audit is required to find out what's gone so drastically wrong...so suddenly??”

The Hull Daily Mail has launched a free app which features all the latest news, sport and what’s on information. You can download it foriPhone and iPad from Apple's App Store, or get the Android version from Google Play.</s>A popular festival has announced it will not be going ahead this year, meaning those with tickets will not be able to ask for a refund.

Beverley Folk Festival is a much-loved event in the town’s calendar, bringing colour and music to its historic streets, but now a lack of funding has caused the event to be cancelled.

In a statement, a festival organiser said: “It is with immense sadness and regret that we have to announce this year’s festival cannot go ahead.

“Beverley Folk Festival is a non-profit-making-organisation run by a dedicated team of volunteers. Unfortunately, we have recently discovered we have lost our primary source of funding, so we simply do not have the money to pay for the infrastructure of the performers.

“We know there will be a lot of people who are as disappointed as we are, but we you will understand that under the circumstances in which we find ourselves, it is not possible to run the event.”

This year was meant to be the 35th Beverley Folk Festival, which was planned to go ahead from Friday, June 15 to Sunday, June 17, at Beverley Racecourse.

The confirmed acts included Turin Brakes, The Lucy Ward Band, and more than 80 others, with weekend tickets costing up to £130 per person.

The festival has now been placed into a creditors’ voluntary liquidation by directors, with a firm of licensed insolvency practitioners instructed to assist with the liquidation process.

Anyone who has already purchased their tickets for the event, which was planned for just seven weeks’ time, will have to ask their card issuers for refunds.

“Unfortunately, the company is unable to refund those people who have bought tickets in advance of the festival,” said the spokesman.

“If you have made a deposit for or paid for goods or services by credit or debit card and the goods or services are not going to be received by the due date, you may be able to get your money back by claiming a refund from your card issuer.

“Please contact your card issuer as soon as you can if this may apply to you. Further information including on time limits that apply is available from the UK Cards Association Credit and Debit Cards: A consumer guide.”

“The directors would like to thank all those who have supported Beverley Folk Festival over the years, especially the sponsors, funders, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Beverley Town Council and the hundreds of wonderful volunteers and artists.

“In addition, whilst thanking the thousands of loyal festival-goers who have made the event a joy, the directors also offer their deepest and most sincere apologies to all those who are owed money by the company.

“This has been an incredibly difficult and heart-breaking decision for all involved. However, the directors acknowledge that for almost 35 years Beverley Folk Festival has brought something special to the town, which was loved and enjoyed by so many people from far and wide.”

Beverley Racecourse, the venue of the festival, have expressed the "deep disappointment" of the cancellation, and will also not be paid by the fesitval.

A spokesman for the racecourse said: “We are deeply disappointed that this event will not go ahead and sympathise with everyone who has bought tickets and may be left out of pocket.

“Beverley Racecourse has been delighted to host the folk festival and to have helped the event grow over recent years. This year’s festival was due to be the sixth held on the Westwood and we were looking forward to a successful and enjoyable weekend.

“We have provided the racecourse as the festival venue at a significantly subsidised rate, as we wanted to support the festival as a major event for Beverley. We also offered to be paid following the event, to help the festival’s cashflow. Event organisers would usually be required to pay a deposit to secure the racecourse, as is normal commercial practice.

“We have not been paid for hosting the festival in 2017, so we are among the creditors.

“It is a great shame that this long-established and much-loved festival will not be held this year. Beverley Folk Festival was enjoyed by thousands of people and boosted the local economy and the profile of Beverley, so it will be sorely missed.”

Beverley Folk Festival has ceased to trade with immediate effect, meaning any voicemails or messages will not be answered. The corporate recovery licensed insolvency practitioners are Redman Nichols Butler, who can be found at The Chapel, Bridge Street, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 5DA. They can be reached on 01377 257788.

The Hull Daily Mail has launched a free app which features all the latest news, sport and what’s on information. You can download it foriPhone and iPad from Apple's App Store, or get the Android version from Google Play.</s>On the weekend of 8-10 June one of Westport's main summer musical events - the Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival - will be staged for the twelfth time. As in previous years, the festival will include over twenty-five concerts, pub gigs, sessions, and workshops in eleven different venues.This Saturday (28 April) will mark the first event of many to promote this year's festival. The event will take place in McGing's pub (High St.) and will included words by the council and the venues' representatives as well as by- Festival founder and producer.On the night we will reveal the festival's main acts and information on the entire weekend as well as the numbers of promotional events to take place in the weeks leading to the main event. Music on the night will be provided by local singer/ songwriter Rosa Kinsella and four-piece Dublin-based bluegrass band Mules & Men The organising committee are looking forward to meet all the followers of the festival and to enjoy a great night of music.</s>It is all too easy to forget about folk art in the UK, to dismiss it as purely decorative, twee, or even a thing of the past. So there is something hugely refreshing and daring about Tate Britain’s latest exhibition, which shines a spotlight on the vibrant, varied and democratic world of folk art: an art by the people, for the people. My only criticism is that this exhibition neglects to recognise that folk art is still thriving.

The British folk art on display is charming and intimate and, at times, downright bewildering. Divorced from fashionable influences and academic values, it shows little regard for art-market trends and fashions. The only familiar name is Alfred Wallis, a rag-and-bone man from St Ives in Cornwall, who was “discovered” by artists Ben Nicholson and Christopher Wood. Wallis became somewhat of an unwitting hero for British modernists and, as a result, his naive paintings of boats and harbours now fetch tens of thousands of pounds. Had it not been for his chance encounter with Nicholson and Wood, Wallis’s paintings would have disappeared into obscurity, as was undoubtedly the fate of many a self-taught maritime artist. Chances are, as the curators remind us, that there was a Wallis in every port.

With the exception of Wallis and the embroiderer Mary Linwood, whose needlework versions of masters’ paintings only later went out of fashion, folk art operated outside the realms of the art establishment. In 1768, the Royal Academy rather haughtily announced that “no needlework, artificial flowers, art paper, shell work, or any such baubles should be admitted” to its exhibitions. Such a statement may be regarded as a final barrier to women, who were denied formal training in the “high” arts of figurative and genre painting. But men, too, practised these “lesser” skills. Retired sailors and recovering soldiers took to the needle and thread to create hugely intricate quilts and woollen pictures. Couples, too, wiled away the hours together. A lively quilt made by a man and woman in the year before their wedding adds an intimate voice to the domestic chorus of gingerbread moulds and ornate pincushions.

Folk art had a commercial use, too. Due to high levels of illiteracy during the 17th and 18th century, businesses frequently advertised their wares with oversized signs and symbols. Strolling past giant models of a top hat, key and teapot, you could be forgiven for feeling as though you have just stepped into a Lewis Carroll book. These signs, of course, are large because they were made to be seen from a distance, but in a gallery setting their novel proportions are playful, like much of the work here. The curators are acutely aware of the fun in folk art; each wall of the exhibition is painted a bright colour.

Also on display are a number of huge figureheads, salvaged from monumental ships, the most impressive of which takes the form of a moustachioed Indian gentleman who surveys the gallery with a wide uncompromising stare. Standing at around four metres tall he was made for the HMS Calcutta in 1831. Figureheads were not purely ornamental – they were also symbolic guardians or lucky charms on the perilous high seas, and were often the only piece of a wooden vessel to survive. When the HMS Calcutta was sent to the ship breakers yard, its figurehead was salvaged and gifted to a retiring admiral.

You might expect quilts, trade signs and even figureheads in an exhibition of folk art, but things take a strange turn with a cabinet containing “God in a bottle”. The mysterious item in question also known as a “whimsy”, “patience” or “puzzle bottle” comprises wooden crosses and various other objects, suspended in liquid. Made by Irish immigrants in the north of England, they formed a whole genre in their own right, but their purpose remains a mystery. There is an air of the pickled curiosity about them that verges on creepy. And for anyone who has seen the 1973 film The Wicker Man, an item displayed a few feet away will prove no less unsettling. A life-size straw representation of King Alfred was, surprisingly, commissioned by Oxford University for its commemoration ball of 1961. My favourite piece, though, has to be a cockerel crafted from tiny, wafer-thin flakes of bone. Its maker, a French prisoner of war, held near Peterborough sometime between 1797-1814, must have been resourceful and highly skilled, proving, if proof were needed, that folk art is more than just the rustic whittlings of self-taught bumpkins.

The penultimate room displays pieces that the curators have singled out for their abstract tendencies. Although the point isn’t laboured, it still feels like unnecessary over-curation in an otherwise sympathetically realised exhibition. A small nod to the continuing production of folk art would also have been welcome. As it is, visitors could be forgiven for thinking that folk art is a curious relic of the past, when, in fact, by its very nature, it continues to thrive in both traditional and moderns guises and largely under the radar of the art establishment. The last room displays photographs of parades and local festivals that remind us folk art is also a community pursuit, as much about performance and entertainment as it is about personal eccentricity. This exhibition could easily be double the size, and still have plenty left to say, a point that the curators acknowledge. Instead, we are left wanting more and that is no bad thing.</s>Toronto’s festival of funny women presents a three-day event with performances, short film festival and a conversation on Women in Comedy and Money. $15, adv $12, conversation and film festival free. May 3-5. Show & event times vary. Check website for detailed information.
Beverley Folk Festival in England collapses into administration.