MugStock festival cancelled as organisers make 'agonising' decision to scrap 2024 event over 'rising costs'

A Perthshire music festival has been cancelled for the second year running due to rising costs.

MugStock festival confirmed on Tuesday that they have made the “agonising” decision to pull the event which was due to take place at Strathallan Castle in August.

The charity said its projections showed the event would only generate a “slight profit to massive loss” and going ahead could have left artists, crew and suppliers unpaid.

In a statement, the charity said the MugStock festival would be cancelled indefinitely but its work at creative and community hubs in Glasgow and Cumbernauld would continue.

Organisers have committed to refunding all ticketholders but said that the charity would be left “in the red” as a result.

“We apologise sincerely to everyone who was looking forward to coming, and are beyond grateful to all who got behind our vision”, the statement reads.

“You helped generate 315% more ticket sales than this time last year. The event might have been viable, but the rising cost of everything left us with projections ranging from slight profit to massive loss. We had to choose whether to either gamble or play it safe.

“We decided to play it safe. We hope you’ll support our decision, agonising as is.

“This will be the end for MugStock as a festival, but we are more than just an event. The charity has evolved, now operating two large premises for creative and community benefit.

“We couldn’t in good conscience take the sort of gamble which could leave artists, crew and suppliers unpaid for their contributions and have further reaching effects on other non-profits, creatives and those they serve. It’s time to cut our losses.

“We wouldn’t have got this far without spending money. Our sunk costs amount to around £25,000. It could be worse… but it’s far from ideal. We’ve made the decision to cancel now because we can still just manage to refund everyone. A mass refund of all tickets has been initiated now. It has left us in the red and we need to fundraise to fill the gap.

“If you can, please show your support today by making a donation at www.mugstock.org/donate.

“It was a good idea. It would have been amazing. Life goes on, and we are fortunate to live in such a vibrant and creative country.”

The charity added that its work on community venue The MugShack is ongoing while its creative co-working space in central Glasgow will continue serving hundreds of care experienced young people.

Their statement ends: “Please share this news, feel free to ask questions if you have them, await your refund (if applicable, it should just take a few days), donate if you can, and perhaps most crucially of all Buy Tickets for Other Independent Music Festivals.

“Eden is this weekend and will be epic. Kelburn is consistently one of the most inventive and immersive events in the UK, Butefest is also a not for profit and ran by lovely people. Solfest is one of the loveliest festivals going, and the lineup for Lindisfarne is off the charts. Support independent music, and each other.”