UK festivals rise above recession with £222m

In a week packed with picket lines and sobering financial realities, The Gen finds some light amongst the gloom- A recent survey conducted by the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has revealed that the independent UK festival market is showing resilience to recession and contributing a staggering £222m to the UK economy.

Ticket Trust, the ethical ticketing exchange site launched by AIF in July has enjoyed a successful first year, exchanging £55,770 worth of tickets between people attending AIF affiliated festivals. The service was set up to help fans find tickets to sold-out events and avoid the excessive fees charged by secondary ticketing sites, a continual hot topic in the live music world.

The 31 AIF member festivals, which include Bestival, Kendal Calling, Evolution and End of the Road, attracted an estimated 480,000 people during the festival season. The average spend was £461 per person, contributing an overall £222m to the economy and £17m to local businesses.

To find out more about their work, go to the AIF website.