Festivals: Hop off

The spirits which kicked in to start a die-back on the UK's overloaded festival circuit are back again this year, with not even the prospect of My Bloody Valentine being able to shift tickets for the Hop Festival:

[Promoter Vince] Power said: "We have worked very hard to try to make it work but it has proved too much a of mountain to climb and despite fighting hard, circumstances are such that based on poor ticket sales and the forecast selling rate substantial losses would be made.

"It is a surprise for us that after eight weeks of heavy marketing and with such a great bill that we have to cancel, though we are convinced this does not reflect on the artists, it highlights the poor economic climate."

Possibly the poor economic climate; possibly the return of Glastonbury. Probably oversupply.