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Can you get a refund for a festival that sort of happened?
Last Sunday my band was supposed to play Punk By The Sea, a four day festival held on Southsea Pier. On Thursday there was some speculation that the festival wouldn't quite go ahead as planned due to financial issues. On Thursday night the organisers posted that the festival was cancelled despite Thursday still happening. However, they managed to sort something out and Friday went ahead too, although a few bands had cancelled. Come Saturday they announced that the festival had completely been cancelled. A friend of mine (nothing to do with the organisers) managed to source a pub who would accommodate some of the bands scheduled to play and salvaged what would be a good weekend. My friend shelled out about £1K in paying bands to play and is now in hospital (he has a heart condition and the weekend has probably worn him out.
Today the organisers issued a statement (if you can actually understand it):
" punk by the sea will not be issuing refunds as the 4 day event did go ahead. the event didnt go as planed due to rumors flying around, the 4 day event took place the first two day went as scdueled and planed however the last two days took place at the milton arms with a new team, the line up didnt go as said however the team done there very best to keep the line up the same howeve from the very start the line up was subject to change, gbh played at the pier on thursday, the rezillos and various others took place at the pier on friday and saturday tookk place at milton arms with sham 69 and various others and sunday took place at milton arms with tv smith, the dirty flokers and various others we would like to apoligise for any inconvince but the event did take place."
My understanding is that the first two nights didn't go to plan as they were without a PA, without any cash and without a firm idea of who was and wasn't playing. They had money in the Paypal account from ticket sales but some bands and companies refused to accept a cheque.
I don't stand to lose anything but a lot of people do, not to forget the money spent on travel and accommodation.