New Stendhal acts announced despite Tourism NI funding blow

Another 40 acts have been announced for this Summer’s Stendhal Festival, despite the fact that last week the team were one of a number of organisations informed that they would no longer be receiving any funding from Tourism Northern Ireland as the body have scrapped their National Tourism Funding pot.

Festival Director, Ross Parkhill, says the news on the funding decision has added some serious financial pressures onto the event but with just five weeks to go, the best option was to move ahead with their plans and hope that additional ticket sales can cover the cut funding.

“To receive this letter, five weeks before our event, with no consultation whatsoever, is staggering”, he said.

“After deliberations with the Stendhal board, we have regrettably been forced to take the decision that weekend camping ticket prices will need to rise further than we previously anticipated from Monday, 12th June. 

“We didn’t take this decision lightly as we take immense pride in the value of our ticket price comparable to other camping and non-camping festivals, but we have no alternative to attempt to safeguard the future of the festival, again.”

He continued: “The past number of years has just been one thing after another, Covid, cost of living and now severe, probably permanent funding cuts from our main tourist body. It is only a matter of time before a number of events in this country are gone forever because they are simply unaffordable for organisers to put on, particularly independent ones such as us.”  

“People have no idea the wringer we and other independent events have been through this past three years and TNI should feel absolutely ashamed of themselves.”

Ross concluded: “We will carry on as best we can, as we always do. Unlike some, we understand the responsibility we have to our music and arts sector, which is why we are delighted to be able to announce that 40 more acts have recently been added to the bill.”  

Among the acts that will join the likes of Bell X1, The Wailers, Newton Faulkner and Turin Brakes are; Jack Lukeman, an Irish platinum selling raconteur who recently sold out the 6,000 seat 3 Arena. Chalk, a fast- rising Northern Irish act who have a buzz about them in the local scene not experienced in quite some time. NI Music Prize Winners Robocobra Quartet, breakout hip-hop artist Leo Miyagee, Country legend Hugo Duncan, contemporary Trad act All Folk’d Up, 50’s style American rock n’ roll with Dylan Kirk and the Killers, the Elixir and Antidote Emcee’s hip-hop showcase and the Free 2 Dance showcase with some of the very best DJ’s Northern Ireland has to offer.

Stendhal Festival takes place from July 6-8 at Ballymully Cottage Farm, Limavady, for more information visit stendhalfestival.com