Are UK festivals “on the way out”?

As Michael Eavis declares that Glastonbury is “on the way out” and smaller outdoor events across the UK struggle to sell out, The Gen asks- Do you think that festivals are in terminal decline?

Earlier this week, Eavis made comments during an interview with The Times that were frankly astonishing considering that he is the organiser and figurehead of the 145,000-capacity festival, which sold out in 4 hours earlier this year without even announcing any headliners.

Citing economic factors including the rising cost of student loans and public apathy, he said: "Partly it's economics, but there is a feeling that people have seen it all before". Adding that he though that Glastonbury would be over in three to four years time, Eavis said: "Womad and Latitude are not selling out ... We sell out only because we get huge headliners." The festival is set to take a break in 2012, reportedly due to infrastructure needed for the Olympic games in London.

During the interview, Eavis also revealed that the 2008 event, headlined by Jay Z almost bankrupted the festival with overheads of £22m. Furthermore, he thinks that the festival market in the UK had become overcrowded and would inevitably be priced out by cheaper, attractive alternatives such as Benicassim in Spain.

Eavis didn’t just get out of the wrong side of bed-It has undoubtedly been a strange year for festivals. For the first time in a long time, Reading and Leeds look unlikely to sell out with some reports indicating that up to 40% of tickets are still remaining. Still, it is an odd statement for a man in his position to make. In 2008, Glastonbury eventually sold-out on the day and Jay Z headlining was a genuine festival ‘moment’, creating an unprecedented controversy and buzz with the rapper delivering a triumphant, imperious performance on the Pyramid Stage. It was only a year ago when we were reporting that festival business in the UK was booming.

There is an argument that Glasto has become a bit gentrified to be honest, with a predictable line-up this year counteracted only by surprise sets from headline sized acts Pulp and Radiohead and the sheer pop thrills of Beyonce’s show. However, it remains the only event that creates its own city, unique in both scale and variety of activity going on and is therefore unlikely to die out even if the festival climate changes dramatically. Also, much smaller events such as Secret Garden and Bestival are flourishing not because of their line-ups but because they offer a unique vibe in atmospheric surroundings and lots of extra curricular madness in addition to the main stages.

So, what do you think? Eavis- Hyperbolic or herald? Do you feel like “you’ve seen it all before”? Are UK festivals on the way out?

Even if you do think so, you can enjoy the rest of the summer fun mapped out and check out all forthcoming festivals on Generator’s handy online Festival Guide. To find out more about visit Fest-Ville here.

Real gig fiends should also check out the Generator Gigazzle and for our daily dispatch of hot new acts visit The Tipping Point.