Secret Garden Party’s organisers have announced that this year’s festival will be its last, with the event coming to an end after 15 years.
A statement from the festival suggests that it is bowing out as a result of not wanting to compromise on its principles, though no specifics have been mentioned. The statement reads:
“Whilst I have always known I was going to have to write this, it still feels strange. We have been on a long journey but I concede to the infamous phrase that ‘All good things must come to an end’, and so it is, I announce today that this summer will host the last Secret Garden Party as we all know it.
I know some of you will be questioning, why now? And more importantly , why tell us now? I hope you don’t find the timing Machiavellian, however there is never the perfect time to drop this bombshell, too early or too late and people are going to miss out and be disappointed. Hopefully we have struck the middle ground here. Secondly I’m sure you will have, by now, spotted that this is the punchline to this year’s theme as it is ultimately going to be a huge celebration of the people who make the garden party: you.”
The announcement was also posted to Facebook:
The last ever Secret Garden Party will run from July 20 -23, with a line-up that includes Metronomy, Crystal Fighters and Toots & The Maytals. However, despite Secret Garden Party unfortunately coming to an end, its organisers have suggested that another event may appear in its place. “This isn’t some principled self-immolation: this is opening it up for new forms in the future”, the statement continued. “So this summer will be the almighty send-off that The Garden Party deserves and whilst that is going to cause some tears to be shed, think of it more as ‘Dylan goes electric’ than our Altamont.”
“So watch this space for the phoenix rising from the ashes… Because after all you can’t be avant-garde from within an institution and lest we forget: the frontier always moves.”
