20 Years of LS Events, Freddie Fellowes on what’s behind the demise of independent festivals ???
Access All Areas Magazine
The voice of the live outdoor events industry. Editor: Christopher Barrett [email protected]
Welcome back to Access All Areas: LiveWire!
In this weekly roundup of news and developments from across the live events industry, we chart the evolution of event production agency LS Events to mark the burgeoning operation’s 20th anniversary. We also hear the passionate perspective of Secret Garden Party founder Freddie Fellowes on the vital importance of independent festivals and why they are finding it so difficult to survive. Among the other developments highlighted are Liverpool’s recognition as the world’s first ‘UN Accelerator City’ for climate action, and the AIF’s launch of a new initiative designed to support multi-venue festivals.
?? Twenty years of LS Events
With its roots set firmly in festivals, the past two decades have seen event production agency LS Events branch out way beyond live music to become a flourishing multi-service operation involved in some of the world’s largest public and sports events.
We explore LS Events’ journey from Creamfields to Operation London Bridge and beyond.
?? No Secret for independent festivals
In the wake of the final Secret Garden Party, the event’s founder Freddie Fellowes provides a passionate perspective on why the future needs independent festivals, and what is behind the demise of so many.
?? Liverpool named world’s first ‘UN Accelerator City’ for climate action
Liverpool has become the world’s first ‘Accelerator City’ for climate action, under UN Climate Change’s Entertainment and Culture for Climate Action programme.
To mark the achievement, a string of events are to be staged in the city, including Act 1.5 Presents; a weekend of live music from 28-30 November at M&S Bank Arena featuring artists including Massive Attack, IDLES and Nile Rodgers.
?? AIF to launch multi-venue festival business support programme
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) said it will launch a free business support programme next month that will provide guidance and training for multi-venue festival operators.
Set up with funding support from Arts Council England, the programme will be open to multi-venue festivals operating in England, of which more than 70 are believed to exist.
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?? Kilimanjaro Live expands promoting team with Lottie Bradshaw
Kilimanjaro Live Ltd (Myticket.co.uk) has bolstered its promoting team with the appointment of former TEG Live Europe head of venue programming Charlotte (Lottie) Bradshaw as a new promoter.
Working alongside Kilimanjaro Live director & promoter Alan Day primarily on Action! Presents; Kilimanjaro Live’s promoting brand focused on alternative talent in rock, metal and punk, Bradshaw will also promote shows across a range of other genres including pop and country.
?? Amazon Music outlines European plan for City Sessions
Having previously stated its intention to roll out its single-show City Sessions streaming programme internationally, Amazon Music has outlined details of a string of European shows.
Launched in the US in April with a streamed performance by The Black Crowes, City Sessions has involved acts including Kings of Leon, Nelly Furtado, Omah Lay, Sofi Tukker, Glass Animals, and Wallows.
? Doune the Rabbit Hole festival to be revived in 2025
Scottish festival Doune the Rabbit Hole, which ran with a 15,000-capacity until its organiser went into administration in 2022, is to be relaunched in 2025 as Back Doune the Rabbit Hole.
The revived event is scheduled to take place from 1-3 August 2025, and is to be organised by a new management team headed by recording and touring artist Brian Harkin along with Rock Artist Management, led by led by Colin Black and Paul Aspey.
?? Alpha Crew launches in the US
Event crew provider Alpha Crew Ltd has launched in the US with a presence in New York marking its first venture outside of Europe.
With bases in the UK, France and Spain, Alpha Crew provides event crew, technical crew and specialist plant & machinery operators.
About Access All Areas
Access All Areas has long been the market leading publication for the live events industry, but the offering has evolved way beyond the original print magazine. AAA is a multi-platform resource providing insight to owners, operators, promoters, producers and service suppliers to events across music, sport, culture and brand activation.