Fans angry after Gatecrasher cancels main acts

United Kingdom | | 26 May 2008

Dance music fans are demanding their money back after Sunday's main stage at the Gatecrasher Summer Sound System was cancelled.

Headliners The Chemical Brothers plus Hot Chip, Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip and Crystal Castles all failed to appear after the Live Stage was declared shut on the second and final day (25 May).

Security officials at the Northamptonshire festival told VF that "thousands" of angry fans had been asking how to claim a refund, with organisers yet to explain why the stage was closed.

The decision followed a windswept headline performance by The Prodigy on Saturday night, when revellers struggled to hear hits like 'Outta Space' and 'Voodoo People', before a rain-soaked night left the site muddy underfoot for the Sunday.

Rumours suggested the weather was to blame for the cancellation of the stage, while others whispered that The Chemical Brothers had pulled out at the last minute, although this cannot be confirmed.

All was far from lost, however, as Pendulum helped save Sunday's live music party by switching their highly anticipated set to the Metropolis Arena.

DJ Yoda's Magic Cinema show in the same tent was also packed out, as eager fans sought an alternative to the banging beats characterising the rest of the weekend, as was Mark Ronson's set in the Home Taping Arena.

Saturday's bill passed by almost uninterrupted, despite one rogue's attempt to disrupt the festival by selling thousands of fake programs with all the set times listed incorrectly.

Highlights included the Fantazia tent, which celebrated 20 years of acid house with old school sets by Ratpack, Slipmat and Top Buzz - despite more than half the young crowd clearly not even being born 20 years ago.

Drum'n'bass pulled the biggest crowds of the weekend with the likes of LTJ Bukem, Fabio, TC and DJ Steppa packing the Metropolis Arena. Other popular sets included Digitalism in the Electric Stew arena and Dave Clarke in the Dirty Disco tent.

Our man on the ground Matt Cook said: "Overall, there was excellent music on offer, with effectively 10 quality club nights going on all in one place, on both days, but a disappointing Sunday followed with cancelled shows, bad conditions and lots of tents being blown into the surrounding fields."

Stay posted for VF's full review plus any statement from organisers regarding the cancellation of Sunday's Live Stage.