Boomtown 2021 axed as organisers cite lack of government-backed Covid insurance
They claim they could lose an eight-figure sum
Hampshire based music festival Boomtown 2021 has been cancelled with organisers citing lack of government-backed Covid-19 insurance.
Famed for its theatrical stages and jaw-dropping pyrotechnics, the event was due to take place in Winchester on 11th to 15th August with all 66,000 tickets completely sold out.
Despite many other outdoor events going ahead this summer and autumn, Boomtown organisers have pulled the plug on the festival for a second consecutive year.
Explaining the reasons for their cancellation, Boomtown said in a statement: “We have been doing everything within our power to try to find a solution to the mind-boggling conundrum of putting on a safe and well-run event to the sheer scale, complexity and intricate nature of Boomtown this summer.
“However, the time has simply run out for us to be able to proceed in a way that would live up to our high safety and production standards for the large-scale event we had planned.”
Commenting on the lack of government backed insurance, organisers continued: “With less than four months to go until the event, and after almost half a year of collective campaigning to the government, sadly COVID specific cancellation insurance for events simply does not exist at this point in time.
“This means anyone putting on an event this year, will be doing so without the safety net of insurance to cover them should COVID prevent them from going ahead in any capacity.
“For an independent event as large and complex as Boomtown, this means a huge gamble into an 8-figure sum to lose if we were to venture much further forward, and then not be able to go ahead due to COVID.”
Boomtown also said that they currently did not have “enough of an understanding” of the required safety measures that would need to be in place at the event.
Boomtown will now take place from 10th to 14th August 2022 and tickets from 2021 are still available for next year.
Speaking to NME last month, Association of Independent Festivals CEO Paul Reed said that government-backed insurance was vital and needed to be introduced for events.
“COVID simply isn’t covered by policies, so that’s why we think that there needs to be a government backed insurance scheme, with them essentially acting as the insurer as a last resort in the way the way that other governments have done across Europe to allow festival planning to go ahead with confidence,” Reed said.
“There’s a real danger that even if everything goes according to plan and we’re in a better public health situation, we could actually end up not having a summer anyway because the vast majority will have decided to cancel and not take that risk, not commit that cost.”
Rammstein's mind-boggling pyrotechnics through the years:
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein's frontman and resident pyromaniac, Till Lindemann, wore a flaming silver coat at the band's early shows. Here he is on stage in Berlin in 1996.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Even when they played smaller stages, this did little to quell Rammstein's insatiable appetite for fire. Here's a shirtless Till Lindemann swinging two Catherine wheel-like fireworks at the Palace in Los Angeles in 1998.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein's trademark flamethrowers have also been a mainstay of their live shows for decades. Here's Till Lindemann at Australia's Big Day Out Festival in 2001.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Another photo of Till Lindemann in his ablaze silver coat in 2001.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Creating a truly futuristic look, Till also wore Terminator-esque glasses that emitted red laser beams.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Huge blasts of pyro erupt on stage at Rammstein's San Jose Compaq Center in September 2001 on the Pledge of Allegiance tour.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Years before anyone had heard of Daenerys Targaryen, Till shouts "Dracarys" on stage in 2001.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Although Till Lindemann is undoubtedly the biggest pyromaniac, Rammstein's pyro isn't just limited to the frontman – here's Richard Z. Kruspe shooting flames from his guitar in the early noughties.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein's Till Lindemann shoots flames from his hands at Pinkpop festival in The Netherlands in May 2002.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Dressed as his deranged murderous butcher alter ego, Till Lindemann blasts his flamethrower on stage in Rotterdam in 2004.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein's Till Lindemann surrounded by pyrotechnics at the Gelredome in Holland in December 2009.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein's Till Lindemann shows off his glowing smile on stage in 2009.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein shoot flames from their pyro masks in unison at Copenhagen Live 2010. Astonishing.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Till Lindemann stands, quite literally, amongst a wall of pyro at Australia's Big Day Out Festival in 2011.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
An amazing image of Till Lindemann and Richard Z. Kruspe blasting flames at Bravalla Festival 2013 in Norrkoping, Sweden.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein are flanked by an arsenal of pyro at Wacken Open Air Festival in 2013.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein's Till Lindemann shoots flames from his angel wings at Download Festival Paris 2016.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein's Richard Z. Kruspe at Download Festival Paris 2016.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein's muted and highly understated stage setup on the 2019 European Stadium Tour.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein drummer Christoph Schneider's view from behind his kit.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
For the 2019 European stadium tour, Till Lindemann unveiled a newly revamped pyro backpack that shoots out nine gigantic flames.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Till Lindemann fires his flamethrower at Flake during the band's 2022 stadium tour. The tour, which was delayed for two years due to the pandemic, featured the same mind-blowing set up as 2019.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Till Lindeman's pyro backpack in action in Aarhus, Denmark in June 2022.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
The incredible stage in Denmark during Rammstein's summer 2022 stadium tour.