Midnight Sun: Stornoway music festival collapses into liquidation with tickets refunded

A Scottish music festival has collapsed into liquidation months after cancelling its 2023 edition.

Promoters of the Midnight Sun music festival, which was shelved days before it was set to go ahead in May, have gone bust with ticket holders to be refunded.

The Stornoway weekender, which was set to be headlined by Primal Scream and the Pretenders, was called off after it failed to sell enough tickets – which started at £79 for the three-day event.

Graham Smith and Michelle Elliot of FRP Advisory now have been appointed joint liquidators of promoters Midnight Sun Festivals Limited.

They said that a return to creditors is not anticipated in the liquidation, and so tickets holders are recommended to check with credit or debit card providers to find out if any refunds can be provided.

Ticket holders are also being asked to check with any home or travel insurance policies which might cover such losses.

Midnight Sun was set to be the first festival completely powered by green energy sources hosted in the Lews Castle Green, between May 25 and May 27.

It had been billed as three days of music at one of the most idyllic locations in the UK – “a festival of the kind dreams are made of”.

It was going to be opened with UK headline exclusive rock band The Pretenders, treating revellers to classics like Talk Of The Town, Kid, 2000 Miles, and Back On The Chain Gang – alongside upcoming new tunes.

It was cancelled in mid-May with event directors citing a range of unexpected and late-arising operational and logistical challenges, which meant that cancellation was the only option.

Joint liquidator Mr Smith, of FRP Advisory, said: “Trading has ceased with immediate effect, and we will now undertake a thorough review of the finances of the business and the recovery of any monies owed to the company.

“We will then be in a position to determine if there are any funds available for redistribution to ticket holders.

“However, we would also encourage ticket holders to check with credit and debit card providers/bank and insurance companies as this might be the most effective way of securing a refund.”

A dedicated email address at midnightsun@frpadvisory.com has been set up for ticket holders wishing to contact FRP to register claims.