In a shock announcement yesterday afternoon, the British Country Music Association said the upcoming BCMA Fan Fest, scheduled for next weekend in Newark Showground has been cancelled. The full statement reads:
It is with deep regret that the BCMA , a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting British Country Music, announces the cancellation of its highly anticipated event FANFEST at Newark showground scheduled for the weekend of 7th to 9th July 2023.
This decision has been made due to unforeseen financial circumstances that prevent us from proceeding with the event as planned.
Despite our dedicated efforts and the support of our community, we have encountered significant challenges in covering the necessary costs associated with hosting the event. The total expenses, including venue hire, artists’ fees, and PA and lights, far exceed the funds generated from ticket sales, which unfortunately falls short of the financial requirements.
After careful consideration and numerous discussions, our organization’s board of directors and management team have concluded that it would not be financially viable to proceed with the event under these circumstances. Our primary responsibility is to act in the best interest of our members, supporters, participants, and the long-term sustainability of our organization.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to those who have already purchased tickets or expressed interest in attending. We understand the disappointment and share in the frustration surrounding this decision. As a non-profit organization, we rely heavily on the support of members in our community and strive to deliver exceptional experiences that align with our mission.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our sponsors, volunteers, artists, and individuals who have contributed to the planning and preparation of the event. Your support has been invaluable, and we deeply appreciate your dedication to our cause.
While the cancellation of this event is undoubtedly disappointing, we remain committed to our mission and will continue working towards our goals. We will explore alternative opportunities to engage with our community and make a positive impact.
Ticket purchases will be refunded directly by the ticket retailer, they will be in touch via email to confirm this.
Once again, we extend our sincerest apologies for the cancellation of this event and would appreciate your understanding. We look forward to future endeavours and look forward to the continued support of our community.
THE BCMA TEAM.
The announcement was greeted with dismay by musicians and fans alike.
So sorry to hear this!! The amount of effort from you guys that goes into organising a festival like this is enormous. Gutted.
Paul Jupe Music
We are so gutted as this was going to be our first big festival. We were were so excited to be playing. It really means a lot to us to be billed and we hope we can get together at something soon. Really hope people keep supporting future events and it comes back with a bang.
Chasing Twisters
Planned Lineup
As a fan posted: “They’ll always be a next time! Keep up the amazing work you do!”. We echo this and have full confidence that the BCMA Fan Fest will be back in the future.