Standon Calling has been axed after 17 years after suffering ‘significant financial losses’.
The festival, which was first staged in the village of Standon, Hertfordshire, nearly 20 years ago, announced the sad news on social media.
In an online post, the organiser said: ‘We regret to announce that after 17 Standon Callings the 2023 Standon Calling will now prove to have been the last.
The festival was frank that the decision was based on finances.
‘Due to significant financial losses sustained in 2022 and 2023, we were unable to run the festival in 2024 and 2025.
‘For the last 18 months, we have engaged with a number of potential investors to continue the festival, including one party for the last 13 months.
‘With huge regret, additional investment has not been secured and we are left with no other option than to put the company into the control of the liquidators.
‘We are hugely grateful for all the support that so many people have given to the festival over the years, which helped build Standon Calling into what it became since its inception in 2006.’
The festival saw some big names perform in the past few decades, including Charli XCX, Bastille, Florence and the Machine, Madness, Primal Scream and Bryan Ferry.
Last February, some performers and food vendors claimed that they were owed tens of thousands of pounds from the 2023 event.
Following a series of local council meetings involving the festival founder, Alex Trenchard, the festival was set to return in 2026 with a licence approved.
The license conditions stipulated a 20,000-person capacity, including staff and performers. Plus stated that attendees would be off-site by midnight each day.
Standon Calling reportedly first began as a birthday barbecue party for the founder, Alex Trenchard, which grew into a boutique live music event.
Many of the festivals have had different themes, with different artists reflecting the theme headlining.
2011’s theme was Gods and Monsters with Lamb and Battles headlining.
2013’s theme of Running Away From the Circus included bands Bastille, Charli XCX and Ella Eyre performed in 2014’s Lost in Latin America theme.
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