Another UK festival has been cancelled this weekend, disappointing fans who had travelled from as far afield as Australia.
Houghton, a Norfolk dance music festival, was cancelled just hours before it was due to start.
It is the second major festival to cancel this weekend, following in the footsteps of Boardmasters in Newquay, which was called off yesterday.
Houghton Festival organisers blamed severe weather and said conditions on site have “dramatically worsened” and are “set to deteriorate further into the weekend”.
Over night, weather conditions on-site at Houghton Festival have dramatically worsened and are set to deteriorate…
Posted by Houghton Festival on Thursday, August 8, 2019
Ricardo Villalobos, Four Tet, Floating Points and Seth Troxler were among the acts due to perform. The line-up also included A.L.F.O.S, Calibre, D-bridge, Digby and Gerd Janson, Hunee, Jane Fitz, Wayne Holland and Sonja Moonear.
Festival directors Craig Richards, Tom Elkington, Tom Carpenter, and Digby Neill wrote on Facebook: “We are utterly devastated. All the hard work, love and creativity that has gone into planning and producing this year’s event made this an almost impossible decision to make.”
Will Cooper, 25, had travelled from Australia and planned a European trip centred around the festival.
Houghton cancelled 10 minutes before we set off. Boomtown see you in a bit hun 😂😂
— Lewis Hopkins (@LewLew94) August 8, 2019
He told PA: “I’m really disappointed, I’d been looking forward to the festival for a couple of years. It’s world-renowned and incredibly curated.”
Organisers said refund information will be given later today, but advised people not to request refunds until the process is confirmed.
Coach operator Adam Bradshaw was driving 20 people to the festival only to find it cancelled 45 minutes before they arrived. The coach is now on its way back to Manchester.
Can't believe me and Ellie just crossed London in rush hour like packed camels to find out that Houghton has been cancelled 🥴
— Ez (@ezhughes) August 8, 2019
He told PA: “The mood is a bit sombre, but they have now come to terms with it. It’s a shame as they have all bought new equipment and spent a few pounds on travel.”
Victoria McCraw, 21, was travelling down from Edinburgh and reached York before learning the festival was cancelled.
She told PA: “I’m annoyed they waited so long to tell us.
Close to crying about houghton
— Hywel Lloyd Jones (@hywel_jones1) August 8, 2019
“We are in shock at the moment — it’s not really sunk in — and upset, but we are going try get over it.
“I’ve been excited for this since Christmas time.”