Alt-Fest

Alt-Fest was a crowd-sourced alternative music and lifestyle festival, intended to run from 2014 onwards at Boughton Estate, Kettering, England.[1] The inaugural festival promised six stages and 180 bands, held over a three-day period. Headlining acts included Marilyn Manson, VNV Nation and The Cult; also due to appear were Fields of the Nephilim, Gary Numan, The Last Cry, Arch Enemy and Amen. Instead, the event was cancelled due to lack of funding, with the controlling company consequently going into liquidation.[2]

Alt-Fest
"The world's largest celebration of alternative culture, music, art and lifestyles"
GenreMetal, rock, industrial, EBM, goth
Dates15–17 August 2014
Location(s)Kettering, Northamptonshire, England
Years active2014
Founded byDominic and Michele Alesworth

History

The initial idea for Alt-Fest was formed by Dom and Missy Void, then organisers of gothic/industrial fetish event, Club AntiChrist. Expressing disillusionment with other festival experiences, they believed that giving ticket purchasers a greater say in facilities and band lineups would result in a much better event.[3] They formed Alt-Fest Limited, which became incorporated in October 2012. The same year Dom and Missy launched an appeal for donations, including an early ticket scheme known as 'Dismembership', which raised over £10,000.[4] This was followed by a Kickstarter campaign in 2013, which raised an additional £61,000 in seed funding.

In addition to the main stage on which Marilyn Manson was due to perform, there would have been separate stages for industrial/electronica (Front 242, Suicide Commando, Covenant), metal (Paradise Lost, Satyricon, Cradle of Filth), and goth (Peter Murphy, Alien Sex Fiend, The Damned, Clan Of Xymox, Diary Of Dreams, Skeletal Family). The fifth and sixth stages would have been dedicated to S.O.P.H.I.E. and steampunk. Daytime facilities would have included art installations, an alternative shopping village, themed woodland walks, and children's entertainments. A circus bigtop was planned with daytime and (less family-friendly) evening performances by the Circus of Horrors; there would also have been DJs and club nights. A dozen bars were planned to provide beers and real ales, including a milkshake bar, absinthe bar, and 'vampire' bar; also a tea room, chill-out areas, and a travelling library.[5]

The greenfield location at Boughton Estate was announced in February 2013.[1] It would support up to 20,000 visitors, and allow for an 'immersive' experience with art installations and sculptures throughout the site. Ticket prices varied depending on how close to the event they were purchased; typically around £145 for weekend camping tickets with day tickets selling for £57. Children's tickets (aged 13–15) were £50, with free entry for those under 13.[6][7]

Early controversies

The Alt-Fest online presence came together in August 2012, in the form of a website, Facebook group and Twitter account. They quickly became key resources for discussions and polls on what festival goers would be interested in.[8] However, early criticism that the event might be too large for its first year or might not have the necessary funding appeared to be dismissed, or even removed.[9]

In January 2014, there was a dispute over whether industrial band KMFDM had been booked to play Alt-Fest.[10][11]

On 20 June 2014, just two months before the start of the event, Alt-Fest attempted to raise £400,000 through the business loan and equity platform Funding Tree.[12][13] When queried, Alt-Fest reported that it was an old funding pitch placed in error.

Cancellation

Initial rumours of cancellation began circulating on 29 July 2014, following online comments from Simon Hall of metal band Beholder, and Rob Ferguson, manager for Fields of the Nephilim and The Howling. Hall, who had been booked to headline the S.O.P.H.I.E. Stage on the Saturday evening, stated that he had received the news via text message, and then spoken with some of the main stage acts who confirmed the cancellation.[14][15] Marilyn Manson, Cradle of Filth, Fields of the Nephilim, Killing Joke and Combichrist then confirmed the cancellation via their respective websites and Facebook pages.

Alt-Fest made no official comment for more than 24 hours, amid accusations that questions were being deleted from their Facebook page and official website.[16] The pre-pitched tent retailer for the festival marked the event as 'finished'.[17] After 30 hours, a brief statement was made that they were "working all hours to deal with some extremely challenging and stressful issues"; they apologised for the silence and confirmed a full statement would be made before Monday 4 August.[18]

The full statement appeared on Friday 1 August, confirming event cancellation and detailing the nature of the problem. The organisers estimated £1.7 million was required for the event, but had only sold 7,600 tickets,[19] with a further 3,000 needed to break even. Dom and Missy argued the cancellation was caused by poor ticket sales and an inability to secure necessary funding. A costing error and poor advice, both made in the early planning stages, were also blamed. They offered further apologies for their lack of communication with ticket buyers and artists, and announced that they would be entering liquidation.[20][21][22][23][24] Alt-Fest and their primary ticketing agency, Clubtickets, confirmed that refunds would be available for online bookings made through the official website.[25]

A creditors meeting for Alt-Fest Limited was held on 21 August 2014.[26] There, Alt-Fest and their insolvency practitioners confirmed that they had been unable to contact Clubtickets since 4 August.[25] Everyone owed money was being treated as an unsecured creditor, with no secured creditors or claims from employees.[27] The overall budget for all Alt-Fest bands was said to be around £800,000. Marilyn Manson had received a £100,000 deposit for his scheduled performance, but remained a creditor as he was owed more. One festival food vendor, Deli Kate, was known to have lost £2,500 in pitch and trading costs.[28] Dom and Missy were paid £6,400 each over the two-year period in which the event was organised, and had also received a £21,546 director's loan. The liquidator stated that they had no visible means to pay this back, and would in all probability have to file for personal bankruptcy as a result.[29]

Refunds and alternate events

Whilst Amazon, PayPal and Festicket were quick to refund ticket purchasers, refunds directly from Alt-Fest were not a possibility.[25] A Facebook group named Where is my money? ALT-FEST 2014 was created on 30 July, followed by People who are owed money from ALT-FEST, created on 13 August. Used to speculate on unfolding events, they allowed people to exchange information on how best to successfully claim back money from their banks.

A third forum, Save Our AltFest, was used to spin off the Alt-Fest Steampunk Experience into a separate event.[30] Further independently arranged replacement events included a three-day Ctrl - Alt-Fest - Delete festival running across Kettering that included Zeitgeist Zero, Christine Plays Viola, Black Acid Souls, The Cureheads, a three-day goth/industrial event from Flag Promotions named S.O.S. Festival, and a one-day metal event dubbed Haltfest.[31][32][33]

On 4 September 2014, Clubtickets resumed communication by sending an email to ticket purchasers. It confirmed, as expected, that as a result of Alt-Fest they too had entered into creditors' voluntary liquidation.[34] The same month, Dom and Missy passed Club AntiChrist over to a new organiser.[35] (They remained involved with flyer and website promotion, as well as the booking of acts.[36])

Intended 2014 lineup

The final publicised lineup was as follows (main bands highlighted in bold):[37]

Stage Friday Saturday Sunday
Main stage VNV Nation, Fields of the Nephilim, Killing Joke, Dead Kennedys, Dope Stars Inc., Gothminster, Protafield, MethedreameMarilyn Manson, Gary Numan, Amen, Fearless Vampire Killers, Truckfighters, Black Futures, Steak, JindivikThe Cult, Arch Enemy, Combichrist, Eisbrecher, Peter Hook & The Light, Blutengel, New Device, Fuckshovel
Industrial/electronica stage Front 242, Mesh, Faderhead, Agonoize, Rotorsand, Zeromancer, William Control, Parade Ground, V2A, K-Bereit, Kommand+KontrolSuicide Commando, Nachtmahr, [:SITD:], Soman, SAM, XP8, Eisenfunk, Deviant UK, Tenek, System:FX, K-NitrateCovenant, Leæther Strip, Aesthetic Perfection, Alien Vampires, Memmaker, Unter Null, Krystal System, Inertia, Global Citizen, Alterred, Pretty Addicted, Digicore
Metal stage Paradise Lost, The Defiled, Onslaught, My Ruin, Mono Inc., Dead Harts, Skarlett Riot, Jensen, SanctorumSatyricon, God Seed, Heart of a Coward, Savage Messiah, Revoker, Krokodil, No Consequence, Hawk Eyes, The One HundredCradle of Filth, The Howling, Finntroll, Breed 77, Malefice, Palm Reader, Primitai
Gothic stage Peter Murphy, Theatre of Hate, Skeletal Family, Marionettes, Pretentious Moi?, Soror Dolorosa, The Exploding Boy, Luna ReignAlien Sex Fiend, Clan of Xymox, The Beauty of Gemina, The KVB, The Eden House, She Past Away, Rubella Ballet, The Last Cry, 13 CandlesThe Damned, Diary of Dreams, The March Violets, Whispers in the Shadow, Attrition, Cold in Berlin, Christine Plays Viola, Zeitgeist Zero
S.O.P.H.I.E. stage Senser, Godsized, Beholder, Stereo Juggernaut, Resin, November-7, Collisions, Skreamer, Spirytus, Die So Fluid, Bad Pollyanna, Je$us Loves Amerika, The Self Titled, Enemo-J, Generation Graveyard, Seven Deadly, I, Spawn of Psychosis, Collapse, Bull-Riff Stampede, Spit Like This, Soldierfield, Vivid Nation, Paresis, Kremated, 44 Fires, Wretched Soul, Stormbringer, Black Acid Souls, The Cureheads, Petrol Bastard, Blacken the Name, Maxdmyz, Sinnergod, Crashgate
Steampunk Experience BB Blackdog, Birthrite, Crimson Clocks, Gladstone, Metropolis, Professor Elemental, Seas of Mirth, Skorbut, Daniel Malheur, Birdeatsbaby, The Steampunkfunk Bizarre, The Wattingers, The Shanklin Freak Show, Whiskey Bob Shaker, Aeronautica, Frenchy and the Punk, Jezebel Steele, The Dark Design, Miss Von Trapp, DH Lawrence, The Mysterious Freakshow, The King Bains, Needle Poppets, Red Ruff
DJs DJ 69, DJ Angel, DJ Cyberchrist, DJ d.Void, DJ Hive, DJ Jo the Waiter, DJ Kohl, Flame, DJ Martin Oldgoth, DJ Sinbad, DJ Steve Nine, DJ Vade Retro, DJ Brad
Clubs Vampire Party, Club AntiChrist, Slimelight, Dead of Night, Reptile, Shenanigans, Nocturnal Emissions, Analogue Trash
Circus Bigtop The Circus of Horrors, Dee Christopher, Joe Black, Rock It Dance, Hélène Atsüko, The Abominable Stiltwalkers, Pyromaniac Fire Arts, Conte Lumiere, State of Bliss, Vicky Butterfly, "plus many more performers, speaker and acts"

See also

References
  1. "Alt-Fest 2014 Site/location announced!". 22 February 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  2. "Facebook cancellation statement". 1 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  3. Barry Nicolson (31 May 2014). "Alt-Fest's mission to bring democracy to the fields". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  4. Missy Void (4 March 2013). "Alt-Fest - multi genre, crowd led Alternative festival". Retrieved 31 August 2014. Several months before Christmas, we went out to our subscribers and our Facebook fans and we polled them about what they want to see at Alt-Fest and what issues they have with existing festivals. We then asked them to either donate to the festival or join our Dismembership club. It was so successful we managed to raise well over £10,000 and that money was used to book the top 30+ bands which were available, as polled by you our audience (with over 100 more waiting to be announced)...
  5. Alt-Fest. "Alt-Fest". Retrieved 5 September 2014. Alt-Fest Weekend Tickets go UP in price in a few weeks from £125 to £145, Day tickets go up from £57 to £67 and joint/couple discounted tickets will also end. SO BUY NOW! ... With: A fully immersive festival site, NOT simply your average tents in a field music festival, fully themed, with art, sculptures, workshops, circus big top (with all day full circus shows), side show performers, Alt performers and walkabouts, a dedicated children's area, milkshake bar, workshops, Absinthe bar, Vampire bar, Alt shopping areas, LOTS of varied food choices, 12 bars with reasonable priced real ales and beers from £3, hot showers, changing facilities, beautiful woodland, hammocks, chill-out area's, clubs, goblin area, fairground rides (some free for children), traveling library, tea room, Steampunk 'zone' (with more workshops its own stage, tea dueling etc) PLUS MUCH MORE!! ... WE love YOU!
  6. Virtual Festivals. "Alt-Fest 2014 Tickets". Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  7. Jon (13 May 2014). "The largest Alternative Festival in the Universe!". Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  8. Alt-Fest (15 August 2012). "Alt-Fest". Retrieved 5 September 2014. So far we have had 160 bands suggested for the main stage at ALT-FEST our biggest surprise really is the 'big boys' IE the likes of Rammstein and Marilyn Manson have only had a few votes.... thus far, go on you know you want to, login/register vote and then do us the favor of posting the link to vote on your profile...
  9. Jo Hampshire (3 August 2014). "Jo Hampshire". Retrieved 5 September 2014. I'd like to publicly add my voice to all those that have said Altfest was a ticking time bomb. From the beginning the maths didn't add up, and it turns out that even my sums were well underestimated...
  10. Alt-Fest (5 January 2014). "Alt-Fest". Retrieved 12 January 2014. Unfortunately KMFDM have cancelled their Alt-Fest appearance despite us having a signed contract and a formally agreed booking in place. KMFDM have decided to take a USA tour despite this contract being in place. Which speaks volumes on the situation. Without wishing to pass the blame Alt-Fest have acted totally professionally and advertised their appearance as agreed with their agent as a formal contract and booking was in place and also agreed with their appointed European agent. This is a highly irregular way of doing business in the festival world...
  11. KMFDM (5 January 2014). "KMFDM". Retrieved 12 January 2014. ... It has been advertised that KMFDM would appear at "alt-fest" in the UK in the summer of 2014. We had for some time considered this possibility but then decided against it and instead, made arrangements to tour the US at that specific time...
  12. "Funding Tree Twitter feed". Funding Tree. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014. Get behind the world's first #crowdfunded #festival! Hosted by @marilynmanson, Alt Fest is sure to kick up a stir...
  13. "Check out our latest pitches". Funding Tree. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014. Alt-Fest has been trading since August 2012 and is a music festival with over 6500 tickets already sold for 2014. Alt-Fest is owned and managed by an experienced 'veteran' team of festival providers with proven track records in the festival and event market place. Target: £400,000. Loan Rate 10.50%. Loan Term 48 mth.
  14. Ali Ryland (30 July 2014). "Alt-Fest 2014 cancelled - Alt-Fest not to go ahead say bands booked to play". Virtual Festivals. Archived from the original on 31 July 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  15. "Autopsy of an Alt-Fest". The Blogging Goth. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  16. "What has happened to Alt-Fest?". 30 July 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  17. Ali Ryland (30 July 2014). "No word from Alt-Fest after bands confirm cancellation 24 hours ago - Alt-Fest tickets removed from sale and listed on sites as cancelled". Virtual Festivals. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  18. Ali Ryland (31 July 2014). "Alt-Fest respond to fans after 30 hours of silence - Organisers respond to the festival's band-confirmed cancellation". Virtual Festivals. Archived from the original on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  19. Metal Veins (22 August 2014). "Alt Fest update- creditors mtg reveals details". Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  20. "Alt-Fest organisers 'very sorry' as they confirm hard/industrial rock festival is cancelled". 3 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  21. "Alt-Fest cancelled as 'deeply sorry' organisers disappoint Marilyn Manson fans". 4 August 2014. Archived from the original on 4 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  22. Amelia Butterly (4 August 2014). "Kickstarter Alt-Fest music festival dropped over costs". BBC Newsbeat. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  23. Nicholas Bieber (1 August 2014). "Shortage of ticket sales forces cancellation of Alt Fest in Kettering". Northants Herald & Post. Archived from the original on 5 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  24. Scott Munro and Stef Lach (29 July 2014). "Marilyn Manson reports Alt-Fest 'cancelled'". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  25. Ali Ryland (27 August 2014). "Alt-Fest ticket-holders still waiting for cancellation refund - Clubtickets not providing refunds to Alt-Fest ticket-holders". Virtual Festivals. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  26. "Meetings of Creditors - Alt-Fest Limited". The Gazette. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014. Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Section 98 of the Insolvency Act 1986, that a Meeting of the Creditors of the above-named Company will be held at The Holiday Inn, Handy Cross, High Wycombe HP11 1TL, on 21 August 2014 at 12.00 noon, for the purpose of having a full statement of the position of the Company's affairs, together with a List of the Creditors of the Company and the estimated amount of their claims, laid before them, and for the purpose, if thought fit, of nominating a Liquidator and of appointing a Liquidation Committee. In addition, resolutions to be taken at this meeting may include a resolution specifying the terms on which the Liquidator is to be remunerated. A list of the names and addresses of the Company's Creditors will be available for inspection free of charge at The Holiday Inn, Handy Cross, High Wycombe HP11 1TL, being a place in the relevant locality, on the two business days prior to the date of the meeting. Proofs and Proxies to be used at the meeting must be lodged with the company at Purnells, Treverva Farm, Treverva, Penryn, near Falmouth, Cornwall TR10 9BL by 12.00 noon on the business day before the meeting...
  27. Adam Kilvington (21 August 2014). "Alt-Fest - Creditors meeting". Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  28. Simon Hall (17 January 2016). "So Altfest ... not mentioned that for a while ... still getting the feckin blame". Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  29. Deli Kate (21 August 2014). "Alt-Fest - Creditors meeting". Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  30. Amy (21 August 2014). "Full Steam Ahead in Llanfyllin". Blank Borders and Empty Spaces. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  31. "CTRL – ALT-Fest – DELETE – UPDATED EVENTS". tribe4mian's weblog. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  32. Metal Veins (2 August 2014). "Alt Fest cancelled – confirmed – blame everyone but themselves". Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  33. Flag Promotions (17 August 2014). "S.O.S! - Thanks to all the bands and all of you for making this event a great success!!". Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  34. Harris Lipman LLP (2 September 2014). "Meetings of Creditors - Clubtickets Limited". The Gazette. Retrieved 5 September 2014. Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Section 98 of the Insolvency Act 1986 that a meeting of the creditors of the above named Company will be held at 2 Mountview Court, 310 Friern Barnet Lane, Whetstone, London, N20 0YZ, on 12 September 2014, at 1.45 pm for the purposes mentioned in Sections 99, 100 and 101 of the said Act. The Resolutions to be taken at the meeting may include a resolution specifying the terms on which the Liquidator is to be remunerated. The meeting may also receive information about, and be called upon to approve, the costs of preparing the Statement of Affairs and convening the meeting. Martin John Atkins FCA CTA FABRP (IP No: 9020) and Jonathan David Bass FCCA MABRP both of Harris Lipman LLP, 2 Mountview Court, 310 Friern Barnet Lane, Whetstone, London, N20 0YZ, are qualified to act as insolvency practitioners in relation to the above and will furnish creditors, free of charge, with such information concerning the company's affairs as is reasonably required.
  35. Club AntiChrist (1 September 2014). "NOV 07 Club AntiChrist - Post-Halloween Party". Retrieved 20 September 2014. AC will be running under new ownership, all AC customers will be emailed details very soon x...
  36. Club AntiChrist (1 September 2014). "AC is Under New Ownership!". Retrieved 20 November 2014. ... We have sold AC as we feel it would be inappropriate for us to continue as promoters within the Alternative scene... Malc the new owner has worked behind the scenes at AC for many years, runs many smaller Fet events, owns and runs Dungeon4Hire.com and builds dungeon and play equipment. Malc is keeping us on as employees of his for a time, so that the club can continue to run as it always has. Dom will maintain the website and create the flyers and website art etc, Missy will continue to book the acts. We will also assist Malc with the club's social media...
  37. Alt-Fest (23 July 2014). "Alt-Fest". Retrieved 13 January 2014. HEADS UP! ... Just a few hundred weekend tickets left now!! If you haven't got yours yet grab 'em now and get excited for Marilyn Manson, The Cult, Fields Of The Nephilim, Killing Joke: Official, Dead Kennedys, Gary Numan Official, Amen, Arch Enemy, Combichrist, Front 242, suicide commando, Covenant (OFFICIAL), Paradise Lost, The Defiled, Satyricon, God Seed, Cradle of Filth, The Howling, Finntroll, Peter Murphy, Alien Sex Fiend Official, The Damned and MANY more!!...

52.424°N 0.6476°W / 52.424; -0.6476

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