Liverpool’s Hope and Glory festival has been scrapped amid a public backlash.
The event’s social media accounts confirmed the cancellation with an unapologetic post – ‘No festival today’ – on both Twitter and Facebook at 10.17am on Sunday.
Earlier the same account had hinted that the festival might be pulled, saying ‘Following the unfair and vitriolic comments, some of us have decided not to proceed’.
Over 10,000 people had attended the opening day of the festival in St George’s Quarter, which was overshadowed by a catalogue of organisational blunders.
Police had to be drafted in to ease queuing congestion due to overcrowding fears while music fans claimed that they were unable to access basic amenities.
James front man Tim Booth called the event as a ‘mess’ while singer Charlotte Church revealed that her set had been scrapped due to a two-hour scheduling backlog.
Chuff Media, who were promoting festival admitted that they were no wiser as to why the events organised by Lee O’Hanlon had been scrapped at the last minute.
A statement said: “We are hoping to have an official statement soon.
“But as of this moment, we don’t have any further information other than the fact that the festival has definitely been cancelled today.”
Hope and Glory’s Facebook page published the email address of production manager Richard Agar, who they blamed for failing to ‘complete the site in time’.
However angry festival goers made their feelings known at the lack of explanation for the cancellation with comments on O’Hanlon’s Facebook profile.
O’Hanlon had previously responded to the backlash to the first day chaos by posting: “Bandwagon. People love to talk s***. Screw ’em”
A number of local businesses in Liverpool city centre rallied around to help both festival goers and jilted bands that were affected by the late cancellation.
The Zanzibar were among several venues which offered to house the Lightning Seeds to still perform in their home town on Sunday evening.
Ticket holders for Hope and Glory were promised free entry to the gig while Berry and Rye also offered revellers a chance to try their cocktail menu for £5.