What the hell is going on?

Fellow Scarborough people will know of Beached but for those who don't, it's a great music festival which takes place annually here in my home town and has been going for eight years now. Like many others, I have a great fondness for the festival and every year I look forward to it with anticipation, having seen it grow from the start. Last August I was fortunate enough to be involved as a photographer which was a brilliant experience. I have huge respect and admiration for the organisers who work hard and for free to bring us a fantastic event.

Unfortunately though, for many reasons things have gone a bit crazy recently and the fate of the festival is uncertain and in delicate balance. I'm sure I speak for many people when I say it would be extremely sad to see it die, especially in the way it seems to be going.

There's so much confusion and frustration surrounding it at the moment, tempers are running high and things are getting a little out of hand. I recently received this message which shines some light on the rather dire situation:



BEACHED 2009 Cancelled... or is it?!

Who knows, the whole situation is getting a bit ridiculous in my opinion.

The story so far:

Last week, I heard through several different grapevines that the production company that runs beached every year (H20 BEACHED Ltd) had gone into liquidation. This is fact.

I also heard that to save the festival, the staff and volunteers that run beached every year would be starting a new festival named "The Beach Festival" which would be very similar to, but in no legal sense related to beached. FROM WHAT I HEARD the problems relating to the liquidation and the current economic climate blah de blah (usual story) meant that "The Beach Festival" would not be taking place this year and would hopefully return in 2010, so as the person that set up this group to keep people informed of beached-related news, I sent you all a message.

Since sending that message I have recieved a series of rather obnoxious emails from the organiser of beached saying that I had "incorrect information" and the festival will go ahead this summer, even though AS FAR AS I AM AWARE, nothing has yet been confirmed.

So now I have heard two very compelling stories, each from different groups of people saying there may or may not be a festival on the beach this year. As a great fan of said event, I certainly hope that it does go ahead, I think its a great boost for Scarborough and the highlight of the summer events calender. However, at this stage, as a completely independant individual who just wanted to set up a facebook group and have an easy life without being accused of infringing any trademarks.... I have not yet been able to confirm that anything will be taking place on the beach this year.

As a fellow beach-goer I can only tell you what I know, please remember I am in no way linked to any festival, I am just the guy that made the group!!

All the best and hopefully see you on the beach in August
Ryan