Local & Live has been running in the town since 2006. Since then, hundreds of up and coming acts have entertained the crowds on the main stage in Calverley Grounds as well as the satellite venues around Tunbridge Wells town centre.
After it went ‘online only’ in 2020 due to the pandemic, the popular, free four-day musical extravaganza returned successfully last year
But this year’s event, set to be the 16th Local & Live and due to take place over the long weekend of August 26-29, may now either be scaled back or be cancelled altogether due a lack of funds.
The festival, which is now a registered charity and run by a board of trustees, is under threat due to a deficit in their finances of around £20,000.
It costs around £50,000 a year to put on Local & Live, and while none of the bands charge for performing, the festival carries a lot of fixed costs including the hiring of equipment, security, insurance, building the main stage as well as the necessary facilities such as toilets.
The cancellation of Local & Live could have a knock-on effect for a large number of businesses that get involved each year.
All the food stalls and suppliers at the event are based in the local area, and hospitality venues that host acts during the four days of the festival rely on it to bring in custom during the summer and stimulate the local economy.
Organiser Paul Dunton told the Times: “The Trustees met last week, and it is clear we have a large deficit of £20,000.
“Effectively we have two months to save Local & Live.
“A lot if it is just the coming out of Covid, getting support has just been a lot slower this year so raising the necessary money has proved a lot trickier.
“We really want to come back, and if we can’t raise the necessary money then we will try to still put the event on, but it will have to be scaled back.
“It is such a shame as we have so many amazing acts that we want to announce but can’t because things are just still up in the air.”
He said they are looking for a range of funding, including a main sponsor for the event to provide around £5,000 as well as other sponsorship packages from as little as £100.
“We have all sorts of sponsorship opportunities available,” said Paul, “So if there are any businesses out there that can help us raise money then please get in touch through our website localandlive.org.”
He added that if funds are not forthcoming, organisers will try to crowdfund and hope the community can raise enough money to bring the event back this year.
The news comes after the return of the Black Deer festival in Eridge Park at the weekend, although organisers had to pull the plug early on Saturday’s headline performance by The Waterboys due to poor weather.
