Festival organiser to defend himself in £1m case

Sunderland's popular Sunniside Live festival is at the centre of the dispute

A music festival director says he is having to defend himself in a £1m High Court case against a council, after running out of money.

Sean Maddison, who founded the Sunniside Live festival on Wearside, says he is "putting everything on the line" in a civil dispute against Sunderland City Council.

The 50-year-old is claiming a breach of contract, lost earnings and legal costs after an agreement for him to release control of the festival - but still run its bars for 10 years - fell through.

The local authority says it is "vigorously defending" itself against the claim, which covers a six-year period from 2018.

Mr Maddison says he feels he was "pushed out of my own business" by the council.

He is claiming just over £669,000, plus costs of more than £329,000 and interest of 10%, which stands the total at just over £1m.

Mr Maddison launched and organised the festival from 2014 to 2018, attracting acts including The Lightning Seeds and Happy Mondays.

Sean Maddison ran the festival with his wife Helen for five years

In 2019, he partnered up with the Labour-led council in order to expand the festival.

He claims he made a "verbal agreement and handshake" with council chiefs, but every time he approached them to make it a written agreement "they refused and told me I had nothing to worry about".

"It involved us releasing control of the Sunniside Events and all business matters to the council, and retaining the exclusive rights to the site bars at each Sunniside Event for a minimum of 10 years," he said.

"The council denies a contract was concluded at all."

Mr Maddison argues the council should have renewed his entertainment licence, which they declined to do last year.

'I could lose everything'

The case was supposed to be heard in December but has been delayed, with a new date yet to be confirmed.

Mr Maddison admits the financial impact of the legal process means he will be forced to represent himself at the High Court, unless he "gets help and support".

"I'm worried because I am at risk of losing everything," he said.

"It has cost me everything so far. Everything I own, including my house, is all tied up in this."

A council spokesman said: "The matters stated by Mr Maddison are noted and the claim is being vigorously defended by the city council.

"As legal proceedings are ongoing, it is not appropriate for the council to comment any further."