BoomTown Winter Gathering will no longer take place after a car park fire and death of an 18-year-old woman marred this month’s BoomTown Fair.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene after being found unconscious at the August 10-13 festival near Winchester. A fire also broke out in a car park at the event on Friday, August 12, resulting in an 80-car blaze.
Madness, Damian Marley, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Beardyman, Leftfield, Asian Dub Foundation and Levellers were among acts to perform at the eighth annual festival.
The first BoomTown Winter Gathering was to have been held in Bath and West on December 10, but organisers have released the following statement: “We have decided to not release tickets to the Winter Gathering today, we feel that it would not be appropriate at this time to go ahead with the event as previously planned and are therefore cancelling the scheduled 10th December Bath and West showground event.
“Although there were many amazing things that happened at the festival last weekend, the incidents that did occur, we feel we should take some time to take stock of.
“As a very close team with so much love for the community that is created at Boomtown, we are absolutely devastated by the news of our festival attendee who tragically passed away. Our thoughts are with the young lady’s family, friends and loved ones.
“We are also currently going through the process to follow up individually with all those affected by the fire, and feel that focusing our energy on these incidents is where it is best placed at this time.
“Looking ahead, we want to put all our efforts and focus into making Chapter 9 the best show and festival in every capacity, and we hope you’ll join us on that journey.”
