The organiser of a Nottinghamshire music festival has spoken of his frustration after authorities suggested that his event was fake and that the selling of tickets for it was a scam. The 'Low Down Deep' outdoor event is taking place over the August bank holiday weekend at the Redhill Marina event field.
The site is located near the Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station, which was mentioned in the festival's original marketing material. But Stuart Heather, 46, from promotion company Submerged & BassLayerz, said he could now "kick himself" for mentioning it.
Uniper, the energy company which runs the Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station, issued a warning saying that it had been made aware of social media posts suggesting that music festivals were being held on site on August 28 and August 29. The August 29 event advertises itself as an under-18s event featuring live DJs and funfair rides.
No contact details could be found for the organisers of that event but in terms of the August 28 festival, organisers are clear that it is still going ahead and that the issue with the power station was simply a marketing mix-up. Stuart Heather said: "We knew that the site was near the power station and we just included it on the original flyer as a bit of a focal point for people who might be travelling from a long way away.
"We didn't think that people would believe we were actually hosting a music festival in a dangerous place like a power station, because anybody who believes that must have lost their marbles. We have hosted events and once again we've done everything totally above board on this occasion, including getting a licence from Rushcliffe Borough Council, so we're not some fly-by-night operators."
The warning from Uniper was carried in a post by Rushcliffe Borough Council on its website. After originally posting it on Wednesday, August 17, the council removed the post from its website on Friday morning.
A spokesperson for Uniper said: "Our site team at Ratcliffe Power Station have been made aware of social media posts suggesting that music festivals are being held at the site on Sunday 28th and Monday 29th August. We'd like to clarify that Ratcliffe is an operational power station, and we don't hire the site out for festivals or external events to take place, or routinely allow members of the public onsite.
"These events have been advertised without Uniper's knowledge or consent and, as owners of the site, we can categorically confirm that we have not given our permission for the power station to be used for events on Sunday 28th or Monday 29th August and request that people do not come to site on these days. If anyone has purchased tickets for these events, we recommend that they contact their ticket provider to confirm the location.
"We can't comment on events held at other locations but we do need to make sure that people don't mistakenly turn up to Ratcliffe power station, as previously advertised." Stuart reiterated that the August 28 festival is not being held at the power station, adding that he has no links at all with the August 29 event.
Speaking about the impact that the misunderstanding has had, Mr Heather said: "We've not done any ticket sales for 48 hours when beforehand we were averaging about 20 to 30 every day. As we get closer to the festival, this is a crucial time for ticket sales so all of this has hurt us.
"I could kick myself now for putting the power station on the original flyer, but it was just as a point of reference. We've got new artwork now which still features the power station in the background, but that makes clear where the festival will actually be held.
"I don't do this full-time, I'm just a normal working bloke and I've got about £15,000 invested in this so if I lose that, I think it'll stop everything I do in music. We should have about six or seven hundred people attending and I just want to reiterate that we're not a scam, it's a fully legitimate event and it will be going ahead."
A consultation is currently being held into the future of the Ratcliffe site until September 5. Rushcliffe Borough Council recently unveiled its plans to transform the site into an industrial hub creating thousands of jobs.
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