Fans frustrated over refund after Kubix, Monument, Stone Valley and Wannasee festivals all cancelled 

Ticketholders have been left feeling frustrated following Kubix, Monument, Stone Valley and Wannasee festivals being cancelled over the weekend.

• READ MORE: Why have so many UK festivals been cancelled or postponed?

News broke on Saturday (May 24) that Kubix and Monument festivals – both taking place in Sunderland – Stone Valley North in Thornley, and Wannasee Penrith were being scrapped. It comes after speculation as to whether they would go ahead, following organiser Wannasee Ltd claiming that it would not be “able to continue” with the events.

The announcement also saw the organiser reveal that it was in talks with liquidators and that ticketholders should start seeking refunds. The reasons behind the events being thrown into doubt were due to a difficult trading environment and a “sudden collapse in customer confidence” (as per BBC).

Following the news, ticket provider Skiddle claimed that “repeated requests” for organisers to release the money for refunds to be processed were ignored. It is offering refunds in the form of credit for other events, and it is not known when refunds can be offered to those who want their money back.

Skiddle also said that, despite adequate security measures, issuing face-value refunds may take a while and “may not result in the full funds returned” to the company”.

Other cancelled festivals included Wannasee South, Jukebox Sunderland and Jukebox Bingley, Sign of the Times, Stone Valley South and Stone Valley Midlands.

The latter said that it was “heartbroken” to announce the news to fans. The three-day festival was set to kick off this summer and offer an “even bigger production and more food traders”.

Among fans frustrated with the situation was a music fan called Kevin Cooper, who told BBC that the cancellation of Monument Festival left him waiting on refunds for “ £260 worth of tickets”.

He added that the news had left him “annoyed and frustrated”, and that the struggle for refunds may lead to banks being forced to intervene. “I think ultimately we’ll get some or all of our money back one way or another, which will probably annoy the banks because they’ll end up no doubt footing the bill for it,” he told the outlet.

Someone else speaking to the BBC claimed they had spent £700 on the festivals as part of their 50th birthday. “Your first worry is obviously money and then it’s disappointment, real disappointment,” she said, before saying she would try to claim a refund back from her bank.

In a statement, a Wannasee Ltd spokesperson said that ticket income for the events had “always been used – in line with prior agreements with ticket providers – to cover essential costs required to deliver the festivals”.

They added: “We are currently in discussions with our appointed liquidator and a further statement will be issued in due course.”

Among those booked to play at some of the cancelled events were Public Image Ltd, who were scheduled for Stone Valley festivals.

Now, instead of playing Stone Valley North on August 8, they will be playing on the same night at Scarborough Spa Grand Hall. Another replacement date will see them perform at Nottingham, Rock City on June 27.

Tickets for both gigs are on sale now – available here – and those seeking refunds for other cancelled events are encouraged to reach out to their ticket providers or card issuers.

This is far from the first time that UK festivals have come under threat in recent years. Last year, NME shared that 72 UK festivals were cancelled or postponed in 2024, doubling figures from 2023.

The figures came from a report by the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) which revealed that – including 96 events lost during the COVID pandemic – a total of 204 festivals had disappeared since 2019.

Those affected in 2024 included Nozstock Hidden Valley, who announced that 2024 would be their final incarnation after 26 years due to “soaring costs”, as well as NASS, Bluedot and PennFest.

The issues have extended further into 2025 too, with Bulgarian festival Meadows In The Mountain announcing that it had cancelled the 2025 edition as it was “preparing to file for bankruptcy”.

Speaking to NME last year about the cancellation and postponement of various music festivals, Oscar Matthews – co-owner of Barn On The Farm festival shared: “It’s inevitable and it’s already started, but when you start to lose smaller festivals, events, gig spaces and venues, the opportunities disappear for new and emerging talent to get on stage and get their music heard,” he said.

“They’ll suffer and that will inevitably have a knock-on effect further up the chain.”

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