Classic Grandin pukuhuoneen seinään maalattiin sian verellä hakaristi: Caledonian Darkness -festivaali keskeytettiin

Skotlannin Glasgowin Classic Grand -yökerhon pukuhuone sotkettiin järkyttävään kuntoon viime lauantaina, Caledonian Darkness -festivaalin aikana. Sian verta oli levitetty runsaasti lattialle ja seinää koristi hakaristi, jonka johdosta kaksipäiväinen festivaali jouduttiin keskeyttämään. Vahingonteko tapahtui, kun jotkut esiintyjät saivat kuulla, että he eivät saisi maksua esiintymisestään. Sotkemisesta nelinumeroisen korjauslaskun saanut promoottorina toiminut Oracular Phantasm kommentoi tapahtunutta festivaalin Facebook-sivuilla:

”Hello folks, we would like to clarify the events of last night in more detail. The show was cut short due to a series of events that transpired last night which culminated in the venue and Oracular Phantasm agreeing to end the show early. First off because of a nameless individual(s) who decided to use the blood provided for Pseudogod, Sortilegia and Ifrinn, to paint various third reich imagery across the dressing room resulting in a lofty decorating bill in the end.”

Rahaongelmien syynä oli festivaalin alhainen tuotto, joka johtui odottamattoman vähäisestä lipunmyynnistä. Taustalla vaikutti Britannian päätös jättää EU.

”This event began haemorrhaging money around the start of the week due to lack of sales. We did not anticipate this in the slightest as the line-up speaks for itself. Everyone predicted it would sell out, we here did not but we still believed it would sell 400+.”

”We managed to source some funding in order to avoid cancellation however in the end this came nowhere near what we required to break even. It came to the point where we could either cancel a few days before the fest or try make it work as much as possible rather than having another Temples festival on our hands. So were optimistic that we could break even with door sales. but it turned out not to be. As a result we could only afford flights, accommodation and catering for the bands.”

”We do not know who the individual(s) were but it did result in the shows abrupt end upon where we had to make the announcement. Dead Congregation and Svartdaudi did not ’bail’ or cancel. They were incredibly professional, decent individuals regarding the announcement. Initially it was decided that Svartidaudi were still meant to play but Nifelheim chose to perform instead

”But with the cost of things like flights absolutely through the roof due to factors such as the value of the pound fluctuating as a result of the so-called ’Brexit’ referendum, the festival really struggled to stay on budget. This was made harder with lack of sales.”

Classic Grand tiedotti myös tapahtuneesta:

”Bands had flown in from all over Europe, with performance fees agreed by the promoter, as well as riders etc. It soon became apparent that the agreed fees were not going to be available to the bands, or venue. When certain acts discovered they were not going to be paid by the promoter, some took it upon themselves to challenge them/refuse to play etc.”

”Several, unnamed, bands then decided to cause severe damage to the venue. Which has resulted in a four-figure repair bill. To ensure everyone’s safety, the promoter decided to cut short the event, a decision which The Classic Grand agreed with.”