Festival axed: Outsider remains outside

Another festival has pulled itself out the schedule, citing 'ard times, guvnor. A couple of weeks after Scotland's Homecoming Festival went, The Outsider Festival has gone, too:

The Outsider programme was ambitious and ground breaking, combining live music and DJs with activities - including mountain biking and running - with debate and discussion, film, comedy and food in a uniquely beautiful and environmentally important setting; Rothiemurchus in the Cairngorm National Park.

However, due to the unremitting economic downturn and audience numbers now projected we feel that we cannot produce an event that provides you with a festival experience at the level that is expected and deserved.

Clearly a recession is not the time to realise this bold new concept but we still believe the Outsider was right for its time and perfect for its place and are hugely disappointed that it is not going ahead.

I'm not sure there's ever quite going to be a right time for a festival which combines Sharleen Spiteri and riding on bikes; both of which are fine ways to spend time but seem to go together in one package like eggs and compost. But, clearly, even if there is a right time, it's not when the already overcrowded festival season is suffering from a shortage of bands, a shortage of audience, and a shortage of money.