THE Faenol music festival has been cancelled for the second year in a row.
Organiser Bryn Terfel last night blamed the poor economic climate for low tickets sales which forced the event, held at the Faenol Estate in Bangor, to be cancelled.
He added: “I know many of you will be as disappointed as I am.
“All I can say is that we have looked at the situation in great detail and from every possible angle. We have found no other workable solution.”
Festival chairman Sir David Henshaw said that it was too soon to say whether the festival would return.
“Ticket Sales have been dreadfully disappointing and we could not waste the generous grant of public money by the Welsh Assembly Government and Gwynedd Council,“ he said.
The Faenol Festival Trust cancelled the 2009 event due to financial difficulties.
Festival headliners Westlife will perform at Venue Cymru on Friday, August 27.
The festival, first held in 2000, recently received more than £250,000 from the Welsh Assembly. The funding was dependent on the festival going ahead.
The funding was questioned by Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne and Liberal Democrat AM Eleanor Burnham.
Gwynedd Council leader, Councillor Dyfed Edwards said that the cancellation was extremely disappointing news.
He added: “Despite this setback, the Faenol Estate site has huge potential as a regional outdoor event location as was proven by this year’s hugely successful Radio 1 Big Weekend and the numerous highly successful Faenol Festivals that have been staged over the past decade.”
Cllr Edwards said that the council will meet with festival organisers to discuss its future.
This year’s festival, which was due to be held over the august Bank Holiday weekend, was to include performances from Bryn Terfel, Rolando Villazon, Hayley Westenra and Shed Seven.
A comedy night featuring Al Murray, Mock the Week star Milton Jones and Ed Byrne was to be held on Bank Holiday Monday.
Refunds for the festival and the Food and Crafts are available at the point of purchase if returned by Friday, August 13.
Tickets for the Westlife concert will be £35. All tickets for the Westlife show at the Faenol Estate will be valid.