FESTIVAL NEWS
Organisers of Scotland's RockNess festival have announced that the event will not go ahead this year. In a statement the events promoters said: "Due to the addition of a number of events alongside the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games we've decided to take a year off. We're using this break to make the event bigger and better than ever in 2015 so have an amazing summer and see you back at the Loch next year".And there will be no summer concerts at Kenwood House in Hampstead, London, this year after organisers decided to pull the plug after 'major losses' in 2013.And in Romania, the Bucharest-based B’estFest has been cancelled, with organisers admitting they’re not sure if the event will return. In a post on his blog, festival Founder Guido Janssens explained that the event couldn’t secure the headliners it needed – and that the event had been losing money at levels which were unsustainable.A new festival taking advantage of the 24-hour sunlight in Iceland enjoys at midsummer has launched. Featuring Massive Attack, Woodkid and a galaxy of Icelandic stars, Secret Solstice Festival will takes place in Reykjavik’s Laugardalur recreational area.
The Sunrise Celebration is moving to Wales to the grounds of the ruined Piercefield House near Chepstow, Monmouthshire, which will host the ninth annual Sunrise Celebration from 29 May to 1 June 2014. Revellers will be offered guided nature walks, wilderness-skills workshops and a forest school for their children. Heavy rain in 2012 prompted a move last year to a disused golf course at Thoulstone Park, near the village of Chapmanslade, on the Wiltshire side of the border, despite initial opposition to the event from local councillors and residents.The twin Rock am Ring and Rock Im Park festivals are growing to four days this year for the first time. The events have already sold over 130,000 tickets, and will feature headliners including Iron Maiden, Kings of Leon, Linkin Park and Metallica.