Karl Smallman
IN an eleventh hour decision the organisers of the three-day music festival in Manilva have cancelled the event this weekend.
Organiser Carl Wileman released a brief Facebook statement blaming the short amount of time to prepare after relocating the event from Mijas for its cancellation.
It offered full refunds to all who had purchased tickets.
The announcement has been met with outrage online, with some bands who were due to play claiming to have been left completely in the dark.
While many excited punters had already booked flights and hotels in order to see bands such as the Arkanes and the Stone Foundation.
The festival’s official statement reads: “Due to the lack of time since the location change, investors felt it was too high risk to offer the final money required to ensure the success of the event.
“With this in mind, this only adds to the deflation for the team. Therefore, against their desires and excitement for the event to go ahead, no matter what, they had no other choice to announce last night the cancellation. They informed the bands and via social media to the public that the event has now been cancelled.”
Those in need of refunds or who have questions have been advised to contact carl@malagamusicfestival.com.
The event, billed as ‘three days of non-stop music, world class production in a stunning location’, had already faced controversy.
It was originally planned for Mijas and was only recently switched to Manilva after Mijas councillor Juan Carlos Gonzalez insisted that the festival had ‘failed to obtain the proper authorisation’ and was ‘fraudulent’ and would be ‘cancelled’.
However, organiser Wileman, a British expat, slammed the town hall for putting his festival in jeopardy.
The Ferrari-driver, based in Mijas, added that councillor González’s comment that tickets were being ‘sold fraudulently’ could not be ‘further from reality’.
Manilva Town Hall released a statement saying it had done its utmost to ensure the festival went ahead.
“From the outset, Manilva has done everything that has been requested, as it was a good opportunity for the town to host a great event for all the family,” it said.
“Although it was not a council decision to cancel the event, we apologise to all those who have been disappointed by it, both those who bought tickets and those who worked hard to put it on.”
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