Yungblud declares Bludfest – his personal competition aimed toward ‘shaking up’ the ‘too costly’ business | Ents & Arts Information

British star Yungblud has introduced his personal music competition – saying the business is simply too costly and must be “shaken up”.

The genre-bending singer-songwriter will headline Bludfest, a one-day competition at Milton Keynes Bowl which can even characteristic acts together with rapper and singer Little Yachty, punk duo Gentle Play, and singer-songwriters Nessa Barrett, Lola Younger and Jazmin Bean, plus The Damned in an “icons” slot.

Yungblud, whose actual identify is Dom Harrison, introduced the occasion at a secret gig in Camden, north London, attended by about 500 followers.

Talking to Sky Information earlier than sharing the announcement, the singer stated he was fed up with gigs and festivals being too costly.

“I feel prefer it all wants shaking up just a little bit,” he says. “I imagine that the festivals, gigs and plans which are in movement aren’t consultant of the folks on the market.

“I imagine that gigs are too costly, festivals are too costly, and I simply wished to work to create one thing that has been utterly executed by me and my workforce to indicate that, you realize what? It may be executed higher. It may be extra consultant.”

Tickets for Bludfest shall be £49.50 – less expensive than the value for day tickets for a few of the massive festivals.

‘We have to make music about folks once more’

“Numerous my mates, numerous my household, my group, my fan base on the market, cannot afford tickets, and it is an actual factor,” Harrison says. “Everybody sort of brushes over it. And it is like, oh yeah… that is simply the best way it’s. I am like, why is that simply the best way it’s? That is what I’ve all the time thought.

“I imagine I am so fortunate to have [my fans] and I wish to replicate how a lot they imply to me by going, like, we are able to truly change one thing and make a distinction right here as a result of it must occur…

“I hope this begins this motion in direction of that, making music about folks once more.”

Yungblud has nearly 4 million followers on Instagram and greater than 5 million on TikTok, and his second and third albums each reached primary. He says he wished to create one thing that’s “all about group, about bringing folks collectively”.

The competition will embody a Make A Good friend tent, for these attending on their very own. And the star himself has promised to spend a while behind the bar earlier than he takes to the stage.

“Lots of people do not feel like they’ll go to exhibits alone, they do not really feel like they’ll go to occasions alone,” he says. “That is the one competition, for those who go by yourself, you are not going to be lonely…

“I’ve a dream the place like [someone says in the future], ‘I met my accomplice at Bludfest 2026, and now we have children’, or no matter.”

‘Sustain – or get left behind’

One of many different criticisms going through festivals in recent times has been gender splits, with Glastonbury saying two feminine headliners for the primary time ever this yr after having three all-male acts shut every evening on the Pyramid Stage final yr.

“It needs to be a dialog, that is the factor,” says Harrison. “I chuckle, me, as a result of it is like, that needs to be it. We have got to do it proper. You have to have illustration by way of race, by way of gender and sexuality, and that is simply the best way the world is now. So like, sustain – or get left behind.”

Following the pandemic and amid the price of residing disaster, the nation’s smaller festivals are beneath extra monetary pressure than ever.

In keeping with the Affiliation of Unbiased Festivals (AIF), which represents occasions starting from 500 to 80,000 capability, some 21 UK festivals have now introduced a postponement, cancellation or full closure to date in 2024.

Amongst them is Nibley Competition, which is predicated within the Cotswolds and has been operating since 2007 – organisers introduced final week that this yr’s occasion would be the final, saying quickly rising manufacturing prices imply it’s now not viable.

Organisers of Bradford’s Bingley Competition, which featured acts together with Noel Gallagher‘s Excessive Flying Birds, Ian Brown and Completely satisfied Mondays in 2023, have equally stated they can’t afford to place the occasion on this yr and have known as for assist from the native council.

The AIF has warned that with out assist, the UK might see greater than 100 festivals disappear all year long – after 36 cancellations in 2023 – and is campaigning for a VAT discount from 20% to five% on competition tickets.

For Yungblud, he hopes to start out small and create one thing larger.

“My plan is to take it worldwide finally, but it surely’s beginning within the UK proper right here at residence on 11 of August in Milton Keynes Bowl. I am unable to wait to see what folks make of it.”

Bludfest takes place at Milton Keynes Bowl on 11 August, with tickets happening sale on Friday at 10am.