The Flaming Lips at SnowBall Music Festival.
The circle of music festival life is in a constant flux. For every new and exciting festival that comes across our path, it seems we have to say good-bye to an old friend. Here at the MFW Deadpool, we take a look at the current state of the notable 2015 cancellations and their chances of returning from the dead.
Snowball Music Festival
Year Started: 2011
The Reason: Retooling the festival and trying to move back to the mountains (the last edition was held in Denver)
Odds of a Return: 8 out of 10. The website is already pushing the 2016 festival. The only thing holding them back is finding the right ski town. Our money is that they’ll finally try to make a move on Summit County.
GlobalGathering
Year Started: 2001
The Reason: Taking a break to review their elements or something.
Odds of a Return: Not good. They’ve already erased their social media footprint — although with such a strong brand and international experience, there’s always a chance of revival. 3 out of 10.
Big Day Out
Year Started: 1992
The Reason: Looks like a giant clusterf*ck.
Odds of Return: Lots of money and lots of history means that this Australian festival tour has a strong chance of returning. We’re going to give it a 4 out of 10 mate.
Sonisphere UK
Year Started: 2009
The reason: Couldn’t pull together a compelling lineup for 2015.
Odds of Return: The metal festival competition is fierce in Europe, but we’re not counting out Sonisphere completely — at one point they had festivals running in a dozen countries. Let’s call it an even 5 out of 10 chance of coming back.
moe.Down
Year Started: 1999
The Reason: The producers and moe. are taking a break.
Odds of Return: 9 out of 10. The annual moe.down was one of the few artist-produced festivals to not only make it past the first year, but thrive for a decade and a half. Expect them to be back.
Rockness
Year Started: 2006
The Reason: On life support.
Odds of Return: 2 out 10. The popular Scottish festival claimed they took 2014 because of competition from the Olympics but have recently confirmed that they won’t be back in 2015 either. Does not look good.
Hove Festival
Year Started: 2007
The Reason: Too many festivals in Scandinavia.
Odds of a Return: 1 out of 10. Organizers Festival Republic said that without “a significant public subsidiary will make what was a tough event economically into an almost impossible one.”
KaZantip
Year Started: 1992
The Reason: Due to unrest in the region, KaZantip moved from the Ukraine to the Cambodia, but local officials pulled the plug at the last minute.
Odds of a Return: Since the organizer is like the Ukranian Hunter S. Thomspon, we fully expect to see this fest happening somewhere at some future time. 10 out of 10.
Groove Parade
Year Started: 1992
The Reason: Issue with the venue.
Odds of a Return: This seems like a relatively minor issue to us. We’re giving a return of 9 out of 10 — although it might not be in the same place.
Future Music Festival Singapore
Year Started: 2006
The Reason: Local officials
Odds of a Return: 0 out of 10. Not only will the Future Music Festival not return to Asia, they’ve cancelled the 2016 Australian editions due to financial reasons.