Latest news with #BackDounetheRabbitHole
The Courier
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Back Doune The Rabbit Hole to return in 2026 as bosses say Fratellis pulling out was 'completely out of their control'
Back Doune the Rabbit Hole will return in 2026. Organisers of the Stirlingshire music festival are banking on this year's revival to be a success, despite Saturday headliners The Fratellis suddenly pulling out. They cancelled their set, due to take place at the Cardross Estate event over the weekend of August 1-3, after third-party promoter Wannasee failed to pay them their deposit. Wannasee is currently entering liquidation, with several music festivals across England called off as a result. The Fratellis' replacement has yet to be announced, but Back Doune the Rabbit Hole bosses are keen to distance themselves from the debacle given the festival's history. Doune the Rabbit Hole ran for a decade before it was cancelled in 2023, owing £800,000 to performers and workers. Brian Harkin is behind the festival's 2025 return, along with Colin Black and Paul Aspey of Rock Artist Management. Brian told The Courier the news that The Fratellis had not been paid their deposit was a 'shock' and 'unexpected'. He confirmed the rest of the event is being run in-house, with a replacement headliner to be decided this week. Mr Harkin explained: 'We had been paying them [Wannasee] the deposits for the performers they had booked. 'Then we found out last week that it had not been done when the company went into administration.' Mr Harkin said: 'Obviously, the reason this has come as such a major blow is because of what has happened previously with the event. 'It was the last thing we needed. 'Everything had been going absolutely great. 'Everyone is really excited for the event to go ahead again. 'We have at all stages tried to reassure everyone that we are an experienced team in this business. 'What happens with external suppliers is completely out of our control to a degree. 'We didn't see this coming at all – nobody in the industry did.' The organisers have pledged their dedication to Back Doune the Rabbit Hole being a 'long-term event' and hope to give back to the local community. Brian added: 'This year was about getting the festival back on the map and being budget conscious in terms of what we were putting on, so we went for the four stages. 'Next year we'll have an introducing stage for up-and-coming Scottish bands.' A spokesperson for Wannasee said: 'To clarify, Wannasee Ltd has never held a shareholding or directorship in Back Doune the Rabbit Hole, nor has it ever had any ownership of the event. 'Wannasee Ltd is now in the process of entering liquidation following wider industry challenges affecting its own portfolio of events. 'We wish the team at Back Doune Ltd every success in delivering what we're sure will be a fantastic festival this summer.'
Daily Record
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Promoters blamed for The Fratellis cancelling Scots festival appearance set to enter liquidation
Third-party promoter Wannasee Ltd has confirmed it "is now in the process of entering liquidation" after being blamed for the band withdrawing from their headline slot. The third-party promoter blamed for The Fratellis withdrawing from their headline slot at the forthcoming Back Doune the Rabbit Hole festival is on the brink of liquidation. The 'Chelsea Dagger' hitmakers pulled out of their planned performance at the revamped festival this August, pointing to the failure of the promoters to "fulfil contractual obligations to pay deposits to confirm the band's appearance". Back Doune Ltd, the festival's organisers, pointed the finger at a third-party promoter, Wannasee Ltd, for the band's withdrawal. This week, Wannasee Ltd has confirmed its involvement in the festival's launch and indicated through a spokesperson that the company "is now in the process of entering liquidation". Despite the set back, Back Doune Ltd directors – Brian Harkin, Colin Black, and Paul Aspey – have stressed their commitment to proceed with the festival. They assured fans last week: "We know that is disappointing news. We feel it too. But we want to reassure you that this is not part of a wider problem with the event. Everything else is on track, and we are already working on a brilliant new Saturday night headliner." They added: "In the early planning stages, we brought in external support from several individuals to help with logistics, ticketing and artist bookings. Some of those individuals were affiliated with the Wannasee Group. "For many in the live events world, that name is now associated with a series of cancelled festivals and serious concerns about mismanagement. "We want to be really clear that these individuals were never directors or owners of Back Doune the Rabbit Hole. At the time, there were no obvious signs of the problems that later came to light at the other events they were involved with. "Like many others, we have had to deal with the consequences of how they operated, and that has included the cancellation of The Fratellis performance." Wannasee Ltd this week confirmed that it was involved in assisting with the launch of Back Doune the Rabbit Hole, adding that it was "working collaboratively with the team at Back Doune Ltd while they got the event up and running". A spokesperson for Wannasee Ltd said: "To clarify, Wannasee Ltd has never held a shareholding or directorship in Back Doune the Rabbit Hole, nor has it ever had any ownership of the event. "Wannasee Ltd is now in the process of entering liquidation following wider industry challenges affecting its own portfolio of events. "We wish the team at Back Doune Ltd every success in delivering what we're sure will be a fantastic festival this summer." Wannasee, known for promoting its own festivals, has had to cancel their events amid the company's difficulties. Back Doune the Rabbit Hole director Brian Harkin reflected on the festival's challenges last week, saying: "This has been a challenging moment, but our commitment to the festival and its future hasn't changed. "We took on Back Doune the Rabbit Hole because we believe in the power of independent music events and the community they bring together. "Being independent means we are able to stay true to our values and keep building something real, even when things get tough. "The rest of the lineup is solid, and we're focused on delivering the weekend we've promised. We're in this for the long haul, and doing everything we can to create a festival that our audience, artists, team and local community can be proud of." The eagerly anticipated event is set to take place at the Cardross Estate in Port of Menteith, Stirling, with the dates locked in for August 1-3. Top-billed names so far include The Zutons, who are set to headline Sunday, and Marc Almond leading Friday night's festivities, while attendees await the announcement of the Saturday headliner which will fill the spot left by The Fratellis. The line-up also boasts Scouting for Girls, The Feeling, Newton Faulkner, Skids, The Bay City Rollers and others. This year marks the inaugural edition of the revamped festival, taking the baton from its former entity, the Doune the Rabbit Hole Festival. Doune The Rabbit Hole had previously secured its spot as a highlight within Stirling's cultural agenda before encountering difficulties and inevitably folding. The festival was previously managed by Jamie Murray – who accumulated nearly £1million in debts, leaving only £2.38 in the company account to pay creditors. When Mr Murray closed the company behind the festival in 2022, numerous performers, staff and businesses were left unpaid. His father, the jailed Salmond blogger Craig Murray, assumed control over the 2023 festival under a new company, aiming to clear the debts owed by his son's former firm using profits generated by the festival. However, the event was scrapped a month prior to its scheduled date, leaving creditors in the dark.
Daily Record
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Organisers of Back Doune the Rabbit Hole confirm festival will go ahead after The Fratellis withdraw from line-up
The organisers insist the revamped Back Doune the Rabbit Hole music festival will go ahead despite The Fratellis cancelling their set over an unpaid deposit. The team behind Back Doune the Rabbit Hole music festival have said they remain committed to pushing forward with this year's event, despite The Fratellis withdrawing from their headline slot due to an issue over an outstanding deposit. The Stirling Observer reported last week that the 'Chelsea Dagger' hitmakers had backed out of their scheduled set at the upcoming Back Doune the Rabbit Hole (BDTRH) festival citing failure on the side of the promoters to 'fulfil contractual obligations to pay deposits to confirm the band's appearance'. The organisers, who said they arranged the band's participation through an external third-party promoter, expressed their regret, stating it is 'sad to share' that The Fratellis will not perform at the event, attributing it to 'circumstances outside our control'. In a post on their official website, The Fratellis said: 'Unfortunately our planned Summer festival appearances at the recent Stone Valley South, and forthcoming Monument, Back Doune The Rabbit Hole and Lindisfarne Festival will not be going ahead. 'This is due to the promoters of each event not fulfilling our contractual obligations to pay deposits to confirm the band's appearance.' The BDTRH festival organisers have since released an update addressing the concerns of disappointed fans, shedding light on their stance. In a statement issued on Thursday afternoon, they acknowledged the fans' frustration, saying: 'We care deeply about this festival and the community around it, and we want to be transparent about what has been going on and how we are moving forward. 'Back Doune the Rabbit Hole is independently owned and operated by Brian Harkin, Colin Black and Paul Aspey through Back Doune Ltd. We took this on because we love Scotland's music scene and saw a real opportunity to create something meaningful and homegrown.' The organisers went on to explain: 'We were aware of the history that came with this festival name, but we also believed it was worth trying to build something better from it. That belief has not changed.' Regarding the involvement of external parties, the statement elaborated: 'In the early planning stages, we brought in external support from several individuals to help with logistics, ticketing and artist bookings. 'We want to be really clear that these individuals were never directors or owners of Back Doune the Rabbit Hole. At the time, there were no obvious signs of the problems that later came to light at the other events they were involved with. Like many others, we have had to deal with the consequences of how they operated, and that has included the cancellation of The Fratellis performance.' The team behind BDTRH are steadfast in their commitment to proceed with plans for this year's festival. They acdded: 'We know that is disappointing news. We feel it too. But we want to reassure you that this is not part of a wider problem with the event. Everything else is on track, and we are already working on a brilliant new Saturday night headliner. 'Back Doune the Rabbit Hole is fully independent, and we are proud of that. In a time when true independence is rare, it gives us the freedom to stay focused on what matters most. That focus now is on delivering an amazing weekend in August. We are in a strong position, and we are moving forward with the support of a brilliant team around us.' The much-awaited event is scheduled to take place at the Cardross Estate, Port of Menteith, in Stirling, slated for August 1-3. Event director Brian Harkin commented on the festival's progress, saying: 'This has been a challenging moment, but our commitment to the festival and its future hasn't changed. We took on Back Doune the Rabbit Hole because we believe in the power of independent music events and the community they bring together. 'Being independent means we are able to stay true to our values and keep building something real, even when things get tough. 'The rest of the lineup is solid, and we're focused on delivering the weekend we've promised. We're in this for the long haul, and doing everything we can to create a festival that our audience, artists, team and local community can be proud of.' This year marks the debut of the revamped festival under new stewardship, following up from its predecessor, the Doune the Rabbit Hole Festival. Doune The Rabbit Hole had previously secured its spot as a highlight within Stirling's cultural agenda before encountering difficulties and inevitably folding. The festival was previously managed by Jamie Murray – who ran up nearly £1million in debts with only £2.38 in the company account to settle with creditors. A number of disgruntled performers, staff and businesses remained unpaid when Mr Murray closed the company behind the festival in 2022. His father, the jailed Salmond blogger Craig Murray, assumed control over the 2023 festival under a new company, aiming to clear the debts owed by his son's former firm using profits generated by the festival. However, the event was scrapped a month prior to its scheduled date, leaving creditors in the dark.
Scottish Sun
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Scots rock band pull out of festival headline slot amid pay dispute with promoters
The musicians have said that the move followed organisers "not fulfilling" contractual agreements to pay deposits HEADLINE BLOW Scots rock band pull out of festival headline slot amid pay dispute with promoters THE FRATELLIS have withdrawn from performing the headline slot at a Scottish festival this summer over a pay dispute. The Glasgow rockers were due to headline Back Doune the Rabbit Hole in August. Advertisement 3 Back Doune the Rabbit Hole has lost a headline act over a contract dispute 3 The Fratellis have pulled out citing unfulfilled contractual obligations Credit: Getty 3 The Glasgow band was due to headline the festival in August The musicians have said that the move followed organisers' "not fulfilling" contractual agreements to pay deposits. Back Doune the Rabbit Hole is one of four festivals that The Fratellis have pulled out of over such monetary matters. A statement on The Fratellis' website read: "Unfortunately, our planned Summer festival appearances at the recent Stone Valley South, and forthcoming Monument, Back Doune the Rabbit Hole and Lindisfarne Festival will not be going ahead. "This is due to promoters of each event not fulfilling our contractual obligations to pay deposits to confirm the band's appearance. Advertisement "Anyone who has purchased a ticket for these events should contact the agent or seller these have been purchased from for a full refund." Organisers of Back Doune the Rabbit Hole, held at Cardross Estate, Stirling, said The Fratellis were lined up through a third-party and their withdrawal was out of their control. The festival follows the demise of Doune the Rabbit Hole, which was mired in controversy. The 2023 event was axed after organisers owed £800,000 to artists and crews in 2022. Advertisement Trade union BECTU called for a boycott of the festival. In June 2023, it was reported that Doune the Rabbit Hole was on the brink of collapse and ticket sales had been suspended following a "campaign of misinformation". Travis frontman Fran Healy reveals how festival favourite was almost 'never written' Bosses later announced that it was cancelled, one month before musicians and fans were due to attend. An update from festival organisers said: "We're sorry to confirm that The Fratellis will no longer be performing at Back Doune the Rabbit Hole. Advertisement "Their appearance was arranged through a third-party promoter, and unfortunately, due to circumstances outside of our control, the booking has not been fulfilled. Like many of you, we're incredibly disappointed by how this has unfolded. "We know how much people were looking forward to their set, and we completely understand the frustration. We're working hard behind the scenes to secure a brilliant replacement and will be announcing your new Saturday night headliner very soon. "Thank you for your patience and continued support. We'll have have a further update for you shortly." The Fratellis, formed in 2005, have several other live dates coming up this summer. Advertisement They will perform at Glastonbury Festival and Canons Marsh Ampitheatre in Bristol this month, followed by Glasgow Green on July 9. They will also take to the stage at Slessor Gardens in Dundee on July 25. Back Doune the Rabbit Hole will take place between August 1 and 3, with Marc Almond and The Zutons the other headliners. Bay City Rollers, Scouting for Girls, The Feeling, Newton Faulkner, and Utah Saints will also perform.
The Courier
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Headliners The Fratellis pull out of Stirlingshire music festival in contract row
Scottish rockers The Fratellis have pulled out of a Stirlingshire music festival in a contract dispute. The Chelsea Dagger stars had been due to headline the Saturday night at the revived Back Doune the Rabbit Hole on the Cardross Estate, near Port of Menteith, this summer. However, both the band and the organisers of the festival have now confirmed they will not appear at the event in August. It is an early setback for the organisers of the festival, which has been revived and rebranded after controversy plagued its predecessor, Doune the Rabbit Hole. A statement on The Fratellis' website said: 'Unfortunately, our planned summer festival appearances at the recent Stone Valley South, and forthcoming Monument, Back Doune the Rabbit Hole and Lindisfarne Festival will not be going ahead. 'This is due to the promoters of each event not fulfilling our contractual obligations to pay deposits to confirm the band's appearance.' The group will still appear at Slessor Gardens in Dundee as part of Discovery Festival in July. A statement from the Back Doune the Rabbit Hole organisers said: 'We're sorry to confirm that The Fratellis will no longer be performing at Back Doune the Rabbit Hole. 'Their appearance was arranged through a third-party promoter. 'Unfortunately, due to circumstances outside of our control, the booking has not been fulfilled. 'Like many of you, we're incredibly disappointed by how this has unfolded. 'We know how much people were looking forward to their set, and we completely understand the frustration. 'We're working hard behind the scenes to secure a brilliant replacement and will be announcing your new Saturday night headliner very soon.' Marc Almond, The Zutons and Newton Faulkner are some of the acts set to perform at the event.
