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The Dream
A yearly celebration of House, Trance, Garage
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The reality
Problems of overcrowding, crime, drugs
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The end
Destroyed by it's own success! |
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WTF Went Wrong?
Let me first of all stress
that the owners of this website have absolutely nothing, zero,
zilch to do with this festival, apart from the fact that we bought tickets for it and felt ripped off like you probably do.
So, please don't blame us for this mess. We are merely recording
the history of the event and the reasons for it's failure for
anyone who may be interested.
What was the High Definition
Festival?
The High Definition Festival was a successful dance
music festival that ran in 2011, 2012 and 2013, and was planned
to run in 2015, before being unexpectedly cancelled, despite an
unexpected change of venue. It was a one-day annual event with
some of the country's leading names in dance music and was
hugely popular with lovers of the genre. In 2013, for example,
the line-up featured Ms Dynamite, Labrinth, Maya Jane Coles and
Sinead Hartnett, to name but a few. The venue had several stages
and attracted primarily young people who were drawn by the music
and the party-going atmosphere.
Why was the High Definition
Festival Cancelled?
The High Definition Festival was cancelled
because a complainant made an application to have the festivals'
premises licence revoked. His application was supported by
various interests, such as the Metropolitan Police, Trading
Standards, a number of local residents and the Anti-Social
Behaviour team. The decision to withdraw the licence was made
by Redbridge Licencing Authority for many reasons that can be viewed in detail here.
The main
reasons include:
•Drug Taking Evidence of high levels of drug
taking at the festival - drug taking is commonplace at
festivals, but a London Ambulance Service employee told the
committee that the levels at High Definition were on the high
side, and he had personal experience with drug use among two
young girls who were 'lucky to be with us today'
. Nitrous Oxide
was reportedly used prolifically at the event. •Police
Expenditure The 2013 festival cost the police over £50,000, but
only £12,254 was contributed towards policy costs by the premise
licence holder. The event's popularity arguably led to its
downfall; too many partygoers, overcrowding, too much crime and
not enough policing led to widespread fears of an eventual
tragedy. There were two stabbings at the 2013 festival and, at
one point, the police worryingly lost control of the entrance
gate.
•Anti-Social Behaviour Many local residents complained
about the noise levels caused by the festival, and high levels
of anti-social behaviour, such as urinating in public. Lots of
litter was reportedly left after each festival, which wasn't
cleaned in a timely manner.
Did Anyone Receive Any Compensation?
Live Music Events Limited announced the fact that they were
going into liquidation in August 2015, three weeks before the
planned event. Initially, ticket holders had to apply to their
credit card providers for compensation. A petition was posted on
Change.org demanding compensation, but so far, no news has been
published of any plans to compensate ticket goers. Bearing in
mind the fact that the liquidators of the defunct company were
unable to find sufficient assets even to pay their own fees,
this would seem highly unlikely, to say the least. |
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Copyright
highdefinitionfestival.co.uk 2015
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