ScarboroughFairFestival.com

 

Brand New Scarborough Festival is Cancelled.
By David Renshaw
Apr 27, 2016
A festival in North Yorkshire due to be headlined by Richard Ashcroft has been pulled by organisers.

News that Scarborough Fair Festival has been cancelled was announced today (April 27) with organisers blaming “logistical issues”. Ashcroft was among the headliners of the festival, which also promised performances from Lianne La Havas, Billy Bragg, Everything Everything and Field Music among others.

The decision arrives just one month before the three-day event was due to take place. Scarborough Fair Festival was expected to be held between May 27 and 29 at Redcliffe Farm in the Lebberston area.
A statement on the festival’s website explained the situation to ticket holders: “After much consideration, it is with great sadness that we have to announce we can’t put Scarborough Fair Festival on this year. The organisers have been left with no choice but to call off the three day camping festival due to logistical issues.

“After 18 months of hard work, the last 18 days have been the hardest.

“As tough a decision as this has been for the organising team, we feel it’s only fair to pull the event several weeks before, rather than get into a situation where we let more people down nearer the time.

“All ticket holders will receive a face value refund. Once again, you have our apologies – and our immense gratitude for your support.”

Tickets were priced at up to £100 for the event, which was due to make its debut on 2016. Other artists on the bill included Public Service Broadcasting, I Am Kloot, Teleman and Kiko Bun.

 

 

More Background On ScarboroughFairFestival.com

ScarboroughFairFestival.com serves as an online historical archive dedicated to preserving the story of one of Britain's most anticipated music festivals that ultimately never took place. Rather than promoting an active event, the website documents the planning, vision, artists, venue, and public excitement surrounding the proposed Scarborough Fair Festival of 2016, while also celebrating the much older legacy of the historic Scarborough Fair that dates back to the Middle Ages.

Today the restored website functions as both a digital time capsule and a historical resource. It combines original promotional material from the festival with historical context, press coverage, photographs, schedules, ticket information, and background about Scarborough's centuries-old fair. For anyone interested in British music festivals, Yorkshire history, or digital preservation, the site offers a fascinating look at an ambitious cultural project that generated enormous anticipation before being cancelled just weeks before opening.

The Purpose of the Website

Unlike many festival websites that disappear after an event ends, ScarboroughFairFestival.com has been restored specifically to preserve an important chapter of cultural history.

Instead of pretending the festival still exists, the website openly explains its archival mission. Visitors can explore original promotional materials exactly as prospective attendees would have seen them in 2015 and early 2016 while also learning what ultimately prevented the event from taking place.

The website presents itself as both an archive and a memorial to the organizers' vision. It preserves not only factual information but also the excitement surrounding the planned revival of one of England's most recognizable historic names.

The Historic Legacy Behind Scarborough Fair

Long before it became associated with music festivals, Scarborough Fair was one of medieval England's most significant commercial gatherings.

Its origins date to 1253 when King Henry III granted Scarborough a royal charter allowing the town to hold a forty-five-day trading fair beginning each August.

The fair quickly became one of northern Europe's premier marketplaces.

Merchants traveled from:

• England
• Scotland
• France
• Norway
• Denmark
• The Low Countries
• Parts of the Byzantine Empire

They brought goods including:

• Wool
• Silk
• Leather
• Spices
• Jewelry
• Fine cloth
• Wine
• Livestock
• Household goods
• Imported luxury products

For more than three centuries, Scarborough Fair served not only as a marketplace but also as a center for entertainment, social gatherings, politics, religion, and cultural exchange.

Thousands of visitors descended upon the Yorkshire coast each year, making the event one of medieval Britain's defining annual occasions.

The Famous Ballad

Even after the original fair declined during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, its name never disappeared.

Instead, Scarborough Fair became immortalized through the English folk ballad "Scarborough Fair."

The song tells the story of impossible tasks assigned between former lovers, including the famous refrain:

"Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme."

Although versions of the ballad had existed for centuries, it reached worldwide audiences after Simon & Garfunkel recorded their celebrated arrangement in 1966.

That recording became one of the defining folk songs of the twentieth century and permanently linked the name "Scarborough Fair" with music.

Because of this cultural connection, the organizers of the 2016 festival were reviving more than an old event—they were reviving one of Britain's most recognizable historical brands.

Why Organizers Chose the Name

Britain already hosts hundreds of music festivals every year, making it difficult for new events to stand out.

Using the Scarborough Fair name immediately connected the proposed festival with:

• English heritage
• Folk traditions
• Yorkshire history
• International recognition
• Artistic authenticity

The organizers envisioned a festival that would celebrate much more than contemporary music.

Their concept blended:

• Modern rock
• Folk music
• Jazz
• Dance music
• Comedy
• Literature
• Film
• Family entertainment
• Local food
• Arts and crafts

Rather than competing directly with massive commercial festivals like Glastonbury or Reading, Scarborough Fair aimed to create a carefully curated cultural weekend celebrating both modern creativity and historic tradition.

The 2016 Revival

Planning for the festival reportedly took approximately eighteen months.

The event was scheduled for the Spring Bank Holiday weekend from May 27 through May 29, 2016.

Organizers selected Redcliffe Farm near Cayton Bay as the venue, offering spectacular coastal scenery overlooking the North Sea.

The location combined countryside surroundings with relatively easy access from Scarborough itself, giving visitors both rural camping and proximity to one of England's best-known seaside towns.

Promotional material described the event as the beginning of the UK's summer festival season.

The organizers emphasized quality over quantity, promising carefully selected performers rather than simply assembling the largest possible lineup.

A Diverse Musical Lineup

One of the reasons Scarborough Fair Festival attracted immediate attention was its impressive list of announced performers.

Headliners included:

• Richard Ashcroft
• Billy Bragg
• Lianne La Havas
• Public Service Broadcasting
• Everything Everything
• Field Music
• Submotion Orchestra
• I Am Kloot
• Lau
• Clare Teal
• Martin Carthy
• Eliza Carthy
• Teleman

The lineup crossed numerous musical genres, including:

• Alternative rock
• Indie music
• Folk
• Contemporary jazz
• Soul
• Electronic music
• Dance
• Funk
• Singer-songwriters

This diversity reflected the organizers' intention to appeal to multiple generations rather than focusing exclusively on younger festival audiences.

Classic folk artists appeared alongside modern indie performers, while DJs and electronic acts balanced acoustic music throughout the weekend.

More Than Just Music

Scarborough Fair Festival was never intended to be simply a concert series.

Plans called for multiple themed areas offering a complete cultural experience.

Visitors would have enjoyed:

• Five music stages
• Comedy performances
• Talks and discussions
• Independent cinema
• Arts installations
• Children's activities
• Craft vendors
• Food markets
• Bars
• Family entertainment

The goal was to recreate some of the atmosphere associated with Britain's most successful boutique festivals while incorporating the historic identity of Scarborough itself.

Organizers hoped visitors would spend entire weekends immersed in music, conversation, food, art, and coastal scenery rather than attending only headline performances.

A Spectacular Coastal Setting

Location played a central role in the festival's identity.

Redcliffe Farm sits near Cayton Bay, just south of Scarborough on the Yorkshire coast.

The site offered panoramic views across the North Sea, combining rolling farmland with dramatic coastal cliffs.

Few British festivals enjoy such proximity to both open countryside and one of England's classic seaside resorts.

Visitors would have been only minutes from attractions including:

• Scarborough Castle
• South Bay
• North Bay
• Peasholm Park
• Scarborough Spa
• The historic harbor
• Traditional amusement arcades
• Victorian promenades

The combination of festival activities and established tourist attractions made the location particularly attractive for visitors planning long holiday weekends.

Camping and Boutique Accommodation

Standard camping formed part of every weekend ticket.

For attendees seeking additional comfort, organizers partnered with Yurtel, one of Britain's best-known boutique camping providers.

Luxury accommodation options included:

• Fully furnished yurts
• Deluxe bell tents
• Classic bell tents
• Handcrafted furniture
• Proper beds
• Fresh linens
• Private facilities
• Improved shower amenities

This reflected a growing trend among British festivals toward "glamping," allowing visitors to enjoy outdoor events without sacrificing comfort.

The boutique camping options also helped position Scarborough Fair as a premium cultural experience rather than a budget camping festival.

Ticketing and Pricing Strategy

The organizers structured ticket sales using a tiered pricing model commonly employed by major British music festivals. This rewarded early purchasers while encouraging ticket sales months before the event.

Weekend ticket prices increased through successive sales tiers, beginning with lower-priced early tickets before gradually rising as availability decreased. Day tickets were also offered for visitors unable to attend the full three-day festival.

Weekend admission included standard camping, allowing guests to remain on-site throughout the Bank Holiday weekend without purchasing separate camping passes. Family pricing was also available, with discounted admission for teenagers and children, while younger children could attend free after registration.

An installment payment option further broadened accessibility. Buyers could reserve tickets by paying half the purchase price initially and then complete payment several months later. This type of payment plan had become increasingly popular among major UK festivals and demonstrated that organizers hoped to attract visitors from across Britain rather than relying solely on local audiences.

The festival also announced a student cashback program, an unusual approach that would have refunded part of the admission price upon arrival after presentation of valid student identification. This innovative incentive reflected the organizers' efforts to appeal to younger audiences without dramatically lowering advertised ticket prices.

Getting There

One of the strengths of the proposed festival was its accessibility.

Scarborough is served by direct rail services from several major English cities, making it practical for visitors who preferred not to drive. Shuttle buses were planned between Scarborough railway station and the festival grounds throughout the weekend, simplifying transportation for campers arriving by train.

Motorists would have approached the venue via the A165, the principal coastal road connecting Scarborough and Bridlington. Parking fields were prepared adjacent to Redcliffe Farm, with advance parking passes available for visitors wishing to reserve spaces before arrival.

This combination of rail, shuttle buses, and private vehicle access demonstrated that transportation planning had progressed well beyond the conceptual stage.

Food, Drink and Festival Experience

Although complete vendor lists were never finalized publicly, promotional materials described a carefully curated food and beverage offering consistent with the growing "boutique festival" movement.

Rather than relying solely on conventional festival concessions, organizers planned to feature independent food vendors representing a variety of cuisines alongside traditional festival favorites.

Visitors could reasonably have expected offerings such as:

• Artisan coffee
• Local Yorkshire specialties
• Street food
• Vegetarian and vegan options
• Craft beverages
• Traditional festival fare
• Family-friendly food stalls

Food had become an increasingly important component of British festivals during the previous decade, and Scarborough Fair intended to follow that trend by making dining part of the overall cultural experience rather than simply a necessity between performances.

Five Stages of Entertainment

The festival's proposed layout included five performance stages programmed with different styles of entertainment.

This allowed simultaneous performances while giving visitors opportunities to discover artists outside the headline acts.

Programming would have ranged across:

• Indie rock
• Alternative music
• Folk
• Electronic dance music
• Jazz
• Acoustic performances
• DJ sets

Rather than concentrating audiences around one enormous stage, the multi-stage design encouraged exploration throughout the site.

Many successful British festivals have adopted similar layouts, allowing smaller emerging performers to build audiences while maintaining continuous entertainment across the grounds.

Building Excitement

Music publications responded positively when the lineup was announced.

Industry observers noted the unusually strong balance between established artists and respected emerging performers. Rather than relying exclusively on commercial chart acts, the festival assembled musicians with strong critical reputations across several genres.

Many commentators believed Scarborough Fair could become an important new addition to Britain's crowded festival calendar because it offered something different.

Its combination of:

• Heritage
• Coastal scenery
• Diverse music
• Boutique atmosphere
• Family accessibility
• Historic branding

distinguished it from many competitors.

For Yorkshire, the festival also represented an opportunity to showcase the region as a destination for cultural tourism during the beginning of the summer season.

The Unexpected Cancellation

Despite eighteen months of planning and widespread anticipation, organizers announced on April 27, 2016, that Scarborough Fair Festival would not proceed.

The cancellation came approximately one month before opening day.

In a statement issued to ticket holders, organizers cited logistical issues as the reason the event could no longer move forward. They explained that although the decision was extremely difficult, cancelling several weeks before the festival was preferable to risking even greater disruption closer to opening.

All ticket holders were promised full face-value refunds.

The announcement surprised both the music industry and prospective attendees because artist announcements, ticket sales, transportation planning, camping arrangements, and marketing campaigns had already been underway for many months.

Although the precise logistical challenges were never fully detailed publicly, the organizers emphasized that circumstances beyond their control left them with no practical alternative.

National Press Coverage

The cancellation quickly attracted attention from national music publications and regional newspapers.

Coverage generally expressed disappointment rather than criticism.

Journalists highlighted:

• The impressive lineup
• The festival's ambitious vision
• The economic opportunity for Scarborough
• The unfortunate timing of the cancellation

Many articles noted that cancelling several weeks in advance demonstrated a degree of responsibility toward ticket holders by allowing refunds before visitors incurred additional travel expenses.

Regional media also discussed the potential economic impact.

Hotels, restaurants, pubs, taxis, shops, and other tourism businesses had anticipated welcoming thousands of additional visitors over the Bank Holiday weekend. The cancellation represented a lost opportunity for the local economy, particularly given Scarborough's importance as one of Yorkshire's best-known seaside destinations.

Reviews Without a Festival

Because the event never took place, there are naturally no traditional festival reviews discussing performances, organization, or visitor experiences.

Instead, commentary has focused on what the festival might have become.

Music fans frequently praised:

• The quality of the artist lineup
• The attractive coastal venue
• The combination of heritage and modern music
• The organizers' vision
• The boutique festival concept

Over time, Scarborough Fair Festival has acquired an unusual place within Britain's festival history—not because of what happened, but because of what almost happened.

The website preserves that unrealized potential, allowing visitors to appreciate the considerable planning and creativity that went into the project despite its unfortunate conclusion.

The Restoration of ScarboroughFairFestival.com

Years after the cancellation, ScarboroughFairFestival.com found a new purpose.

Instead of disappearing like many event websites that eventually expire and vanish from the internet, the site was restored as an archival project preserving both the original promotional material and the broader story surrounding the festival. This restoration reflects a growing appreciation for digital preservation, recognizing that websites documenting cultural events can become valuable historical resources even when the events themselves are short-lived.

The restored version retains much of the original appearance and messaging while providing additional context explaining the festival's cancellation and historical significance. Visitors can browse information that prospective attendees would have seen during the months leading up to May 2016, offering an authentic snapshot of the festival's ambitions.

Digital preservation projects of this type have become increasingly important as more of modern history exists primarily online. Promotional websites, ticket information, artist announcements, photographs, and press releases often disappear when domains expire or hosting services are discontinued. By restoring ScarboroughFairFestival.com, its custodians have preserved a piece of contemporary British music history that otherwise might have been lost.

Ownership and Stewardship

The original Scarborough Fair Festival was organized by an independent team seeking to establish a new annual music and arts event on the Yorkshire coast. Festival operations were based at Redcliffe Farm near Lebberston, just south of Scarborough, where planning and logistical work took place during the eighteen months leading up to the proposed opening weekend.

The restored website acknowledges that the preservation effort was undertaken with assistance from individuals involved with the original project, alongside technical support from TNG/Earthling. Rather than attempting to revive the festival commercially, the restored site exists as a historical archive designed to document and preserve the project's legacy.

This distinction is important because it makes clear that the website is not selling tickets or promoting a future event. Instead, it serves researchers, music enthusiasts, local historians, and anyone interested in Britain's festival culture.

Popularity and Public Interest

Although the festival itself never opened, public interest before its cancellation was considerable.

The announcement of artists such as Richard Ashcroft, Billy Bragg, Public Service Broadcasting, Lianne La Havas, Everything Everything, Field Music, Lau, and I Am Kloot generated widespread attention within the UK music press. Coverage appeared in national music publications, regional newspapers, entertainment websites, and festival listings, helping establish awareness well beyond Yorkshire.

The combination of a respected lineup, a dramatic coastal venue, and the revival of the historic Scarborough Fair name generated genuine excitement among festival-goers. Early ticket sales and discussions across festival forums suggested that many people viewed the event as one of the more promising additions to Britain's increasingly competitive summer festival calendar.

Even today, archived discussions continue to reference Scarborough Fair Festival as an example of an ambitious event that attracted attention because of its concept, artist roster, and location despite never taking place.

A Destination Rich in Attractions

One reason the festival attracted interest was its location within one of England's best-known seaside resorts.

Scarborough has been welcoming visitors for centuries and offers an exceptional combination of natural beauty, history, and traditional British coastal attractions.

Visitors attending the festival would have found themselves close to:

• Scarborough Castle, overlooking the North Sea from dramatic cliffs.
• South Bay, famous for its sandy beach, harbor, and Victorian promenade.
• North Bay, known for quieter beaches and family attractions.
• Peasholm Park, one of Britain's finest oriental-themed municipal parks.
• The Scarborough Spa complex, a historic entertainment venue hosting concerts and theatrical performances.
• The town's historic harbor, seafood restaurants, and maritime heritage.

This proximity meant many festival attendees were expected to extend their visits beyond the festival itself, contributing additional tourism revenue to the region.

Supporting the Yorkshire Economy

Large music festivals often provide significant economic benefits to their host communities.

Although Scarborough Fair Festival never opened, projections suggested it could have brought thousands of visitors to the Yorkshire coast during a traditionally busy holiday weekend.

Potential beneficiaries included:

• Hotels
• Bed-and-breakfasts
• Holiday parks
• Restaurants
• Cafés
• Pubs
• Taxi companies
• Retail shops
• Fuel stations
• Tourist attractions

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For Scarborough, which has long relied on tourism as a cornerstone of its economy, the festival represented an opportunity to attract a younger audience while encouraging repeat visits outside the traditional summer holiday season.

The cancellation therefore affected not only ticket holders but also numerous local businesses that had anticipated increased visitor spending.

Cultural Significance

Scarborough Fair Festival occupies an unusual place in British cultural history.

Unlike successful festivals remembered for legendary performances, it is remembered primarily for its extraordinary promise.

Its significance lies in several areas.

First, it demonstrated the enduring power of historic branding. A medieval fair founded in the thirteenth century remained sufficiently recognizable centuries later to inspire a modern music festival capable of attracting internationally respected artists.

Second, it illustrated the continuing popularity of boutique festivals that emphasize carefully curated experiences over sheer scale.

Third, the restoration of the website reflects the growing importance of preserving digital cultural artifacts. Increasingly, historians recognize that websites documenting events, organizations, and communities form an essential part of the historical record.

Finally, Scarborough Fair Festival serves as a reminder that not every ambitious cultural project succeeds operationally, yet those efforts can still leave lasting historical value.

Why the Website Remains Worth Visiting

Today, ScarboroughFairFestival.com appeals to several different audiences.

Music enthusiasts can explore the planned lineup and imagine what the festival might have become.

Festival historians gain insight into the planning and marketing of a major independent event.

Students of digital preservation can examine how archived websites preserve important moments in cultural history.

Visitors interested in Yorkshire's heritage can also learn about the medieval Scarborough Fair alongside the modern revival attempt.

The website therefore functions on multiple levels:

• Historical archive
• Festival memorial
• Educational resource
• Tourism history
• Music history
• Digital preservation project

Legacy

While Scarborough Fair Festival never became the annual celebration its organizers envisioned, its legacy survives through careful preservation.

The restored website ensures that the considerable effort invested by organizers, performers, volunteers, and supporters has not been forgotten. It documents an ambitious attempt to blend history, music, arts, and Yorkshire heritage into a single cultural event that, although ultimately cancelled, captured the imagination of many within Britain's festival community.

Rather than disappearing into obscurity, ScarboroughFairFestival.com allows future generations to understand both the aspirations and the realities of organizing a major music festival. It preserves not simply facts and dates, but the optimism that surrounded the project during its planning stages.

In that respect, the website has achieved something valuable in its own right. It has transformed a cancelled event into an enduring historical record—one that celebrates creativity, documents challenges, and keeps alive the memory of an ambitious effort to bring one of England's most famous historic names back to life for a new generation of music lovers.

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ScarboroughFairFestival.com