Hackney Chronicle: Headliners Bombay Bicycle Club and CMAT had their gigs cancelled as LIDO Festival was postponed by two months to protect Victoria Park.
Indie rockers Bombay Bicycle Club are "disappointed" after their homecoming gig was cancelled to protect a London park. The band were due to play the LIDO Festival in Victoria Park on June 14 backed by Metronomy. But the festival has been pushed back by two months due to ground conditions in the Tower Hamlets Park – with both headline gigs by CMAT and Bombay Bicycle Club unable to be rescheduled. CMAT was due to play a headline show at LIDO Festival on June 12. (Image: Sarah Doyle) Breaking the news to fans on their social media channels – the band, who formed 20 years ago in Crouch End and Hampstead, insisted "everyone who bought tickets will be automatically refunded". A post shared by Bombay Bicycle Club (@bombayinsta) The post reads: "We are disappointed to tell you that Lido Festival on June 14 has been cancelled by the promoter to protect ground conditions in the park; this is a knock-on effect of the work that was required after last year’s events and the wet winter causing further issues. "This one is very much out of our hands but that doesn’t change how horribly we feel about the impact on fans who have bought tickets. "We know many of you made special plans and were going to travel from far and wide for this show and we are very sorry for the inconvenience this will cause you." The CMAT, Father John Misty and Sharon Van Etten event on June 12 will also be cancelled with all ticketholders refunded. A post shared by LIDO Festival (@lidofestival) But festival promoters AEG say Maribou State and the full support bill will now play on August 31 in Victoria Park. They added that the change was in no way the fault of the artists or the London Borough of Tower Hamlets who had all been supportive. "Protecting the condition of Victoria Park is of paramount importance to LIDO and to Tower Hamlets," said a statement. "Last summer's drought led to well reported dust issues but the extensive reseeding and improvement programme delivered by AEG has been successful and the park is now in great condition for community use. "Following one of the wettest winters in recent history our advisors recommended giving these newly improved areas a little more time before starting the festival programme." Visit lidofestival.co.uk for details on refunds.