Barn on the Farm wins top award but its future is in doubt

Organisers of Barn on The Farm festival said they made a loss this year and might not be able to return in 2024

A music festival that is struggling financially has won a top accolade at the UK Festival Awards.

Barn On The Farm Festival, based at Over Farm near Gloucester, was awarded Best Small Festival at the annual event in Manchester.

"Best Small Festival is something we've been searching for for 14 years," said organiser, Josh Sanger.

However, he added that many grassroots venues are "struggling to keep it all alive."

The UK Festival Awards are voted for by the public and take into account the capacity of each venue to make it fair.

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Mr Sanger said he believed small festivals are vital for supporting up-and-coming musicians.

"It's a pipeline for the next generation of artists. Without the grassroots music scene you don't have the next Lewis Capaldi's or the next Hozier or even the names that then go on and headline Glastonbury.

"I think receiving a reward like this is validating, and hopefully shines a light on the great work that other people are doing on the grassroots scene," he added.

Production costs for smaller festivals are often prohibitive, said Mr Sanger

In July Mr Sanger announced on social media that Barn on the Farm, which was founded in 2010, faced a financial loss in 2023 and the festival's future was in doubt.

Many fans enjoy the smaller venues due to the more relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Festival-goer Claudia Slater said: "It's a great opportunity to support local artists and discover exciting new music that is being produced in our area.

"As the venues are generally smaller and more intimate they also feel safer and have a greater sense of community which you don't get with larger festivals," she added.

Speaking to BBC Radio Gloucestershire after receiving the award, Mr Sanger said: "Small festivals are a little bit against the flames at the moment because in order to pay for the production costs you've got to get bigger and it's against the nature of what we want to create."

The grassroots music scene is a vital support for up-and-coming artists, Mr Sanger said

Joe Pointon founded the Gloucestershire-based Witcombe Festival in 2012.

The event has grown over the years and now attracts more than 25,000 people and has been headlined by the likes of Chase and Status, Craig David and Dizzee Rascal.

He agreed with Mr Sanger over the difficulties of hosting a festival.

"We and other small independent festivals struggle to compete for headline artists with the major festivals which are owned by one massive company which controls where these artists can play, therefore controlling the growth of small festivals," said Mr Pointon.

"Small festivals are the best way to experience live music as you are no more than 20m away from the stage. You feel part of the event, not just a ticket number like those at the large scale commercial festivals," he added.