Indietracks had announced earlier in the year that their 2021 iteration of the festival will not be going ahead, primarily due to the lasting impact of Covid-19. Now, they have announced it is to lay forever dormant. On their website, they stated that “we’re very sad to say that we’re bringing the Indietracks festival to a close. We’ve had over a decade of wonderful memories, and so it’s heartbreaking to let you know that 2019’s festival was our final event.”
The 2020 edition of Indietracks, which was to headline Los Campesinos! and Pip Blom, was cancelled due to the impacts of the Covid pandemic. Due to return a year later, organisers have said instead that the 2021 version is to face a similar fate. Los Campesinos! had shared on their Twitter that they were “so sad to hear of the end of Indietracks. It was the first festival we ever headlined, and our scheduled 2020 headline set felt like it could have been a career high.”
So sad to hear of the end of Indietracks.
It was the first festival we ever headlined, and our scheduled 2020 headline set felt like it could have been a career high.
As a performer and a punter it was one of the UK’s best fests https://t.co/dXTus3oB4R
— Los Campesinos! (@LosCampesinos) November 15, 2021
Similar to 2020, Indietracks said they would go forward with a virtual festival in order to raise funds for the Midland Railway Trust, the charity that organises Indietracks. The land that Indietracks is on, Midland Railway-Butterly, had been closed for months due to Covid restrictions and has recently been hit by damaging floods. There is a fundraiser on their Facebook.
Speaking further on the matter, Indietracks earlier stated on their website that “while they [Midland Railway-Butterly] remain hopeful of re-opening at some point this year, at this point it is not clear when that might be and so we can’t add any extra financial and administrative burden at such a difficult time. The ongoing situation with Covid-19 in the UK and the associated restrictions also means that organising a festival in the UK this summer is a huge financial risk – particularly for a small charity like the Midland Railway Trust.”
But now, the organisers have made the decision to cancel the festival for good. On their website, they made a heartfelt statement, explaining that “despite significant effort from all concerned the event has sadly proved unsustainable, principally due to the ongoing ramifications of the pandemic.”
Fans have taken to Twitter to express grief over the loss of their beloved festival. One fan wrote “Indietracks was our special little world where we could unapologetically be ourselves. We had the MOST fun. It was home for a weekend and I have too many amazing memories. We were so lucky to have experienced it. My heart is broken that it’s over.”
Indietracks was our special little world where we could unapologetically be ourselves. We had the MOST fun. It was home for a weekend and I have too many amazing memories. We were so lucky to have experienced it. My heart is broken that it’s over #IndietracksMemories pic.twitter.com/qKDJWmPIRD
— madeliefje (@daisy_boofa) November 15, 2021
Ending on a positive note, they finished with “there are so many fantastic artists, festivals, promoters and record labels out there. And we’d encourage you all to get involved, be supportive and create something new!”
“Put on a gig, arrange a festival, form a band, start a label, share something with the world that needs sharing. We’ll support you however we can, even if it’s just sharing something on social media or offering advice (bearing in mind we made as many mistakes as we got things right!). Just drop us a message and we’ll try and help. Otherwise, it’s over to you now – go for it!”
While the ending for Indietracks is unceremonious and anticlimactic, the hope that the organisers offer is that there will always be potential for more of the same fun, creativity, and joy that Indietracks had once offered. Even still, it is a devastating blow for the Indie scene, and one that many indie fans are sure to miss.
