Stonehaven’s Hogmanay festival is facing legal action after music acts and companies were left out of pocket.
The Supernaturals – who had hits in the 1990s with songs including Smile and The Day Before Yesterday’s Man – are among those owed thousands of pounds.
Open Air in the Square, which is run as a charity, has not paid some musical acts, two production companies and a security firm over a three-year period.
Security firm G4S, which provided guards for the event, is understood to be owed thousands of pounds and is now taking legal action against organisers.
Organisers have apologised to those who have not been paid, blaming cashflow problems, and pledged all debts would soon be settled.
Since 2013 thousands of revellers have flocked to the coastal town to see big-name bands such as Deacon Blue, The Human League and Simple Minds.
However, it is the smaller bands who say they are still awaiting payment for their performances.
The Supernaturals claim they are £2,000 out of pocket for playing at the 2015 concert.
Singer James McColl said: “We tried to get paid before the gig and went to the production office but there was no one to be seen.
“We sent an invoice, then we tried contacting them via Facebook and the Open Air In The Square website, but no one has acknowledged us at all.
“I think for a charity they really should have said we were not going to get paid.”
Edinburgh-based band Lorraine & The Borderlands played at the 2015 concert and also claim they are due thousands of pounds.
Singer Lorraine McCauley said: “This is the first time we haven’t been paid for playing at a concert.”
The Peatbog Faeries were paid in instalments for their performance in 2014 but claim to still be waiting for the full amount to be settled.
A spokeswoman for the band said: “We managed to get some of our money, but a couple of hundred pounds has still not been paid.”
Blackbox Audio, the company responsible for managing last year’s event, also said it has not been paid.
Meanwhile, lighting firm SM Lighting said it was still due £9,000 for work it carried out for the 2014 event.
The organisers behind Open Air in the Square said payments will now be made in the coming weeks.
Lynn Callaghan, trustee and secretary, said: “Stonehaven Festival and Events was set up by volunteers as a non-profit organisation for the good of the community and people of Stonehaven.
“Unforeseen costs contributed to losses being incurred, despite the success and popularity of the event itself.
“There have been delays in paying some suppliers while certain outstanding administrative and financial issues were dealt with.
“These matters have now reached a satisfactory conclusion and this will ensure suppliers will be paid in coming weeks.
“The committee apologises for any inconvenience caused by these delays.”
The 2016 concert has been cancelled due to the financial climate but there is hope a similar event can deliver a Hogmanay concert in Stonehaven in 2017.
