01/08/2026
To everyone involved in the first HayRock Festival,
Now that I have had time to reflect on the weekend, I want to provide a further update and properly recognise the people whose efforts were not acknowledged in my original statement.
That statement was written while the festival was still taking place and while I was focused on keeping the event running following the unexpected withdrawal of Event Productions UK Ltd. In those circumstances, I failed to properly thank the bands and photographers who worked incredibly hard to help the festival continue. I am genuinely sorry for that omission.
I would like to sincerely thank every band and performer who remained patient, adapted to changing performance times and continued to deliver for the audience despite the disruption behind the scenes. The delays and uncertainty made the weekend far more difficult than it should have been, yet the bands worked with the situation, supported one another and still gave everything they could when they reached the stage.
I would also like to give particular thanks to the festival photographers, whose role changed considerably once the original production company withdrew.
My mistake stemmed from how the original contract was structured. Event Productions UK Ltd had been appointed to manage the whole production package, including sound, lighting, stage management and backstage crew.
When they unexpectedly withdrew at approximately 1:30pm on Thursday, my immediate focus was on replacing the sound and lighting so the festival could still proceed. TechProEvents responded at extremely short notice and travelled from Ireland to provide the replacement technical production. In the scramble to solve that immediate problem, I overlooked the fact that the festival was now also completely without a stage manager and backstage team.
That is where the photographers brilliantly stepped in. Although they had attended to document the festival, they went well beyond their intended roles by helping to coordinate the bands backstage, manage the running order and keep the programme moving in extremely difficult circumstances. Their contribution made a real difference and should have been acknowledged sooner.
My sincere thanks also go to TechProEvents. Without their willingness to respond at such short notice, the festival could not have continued.
It is also important to address the rumours that circulated regarding the safety of the stage.
The stage was purchased from a reputable supplier and specified with the involvement of a respected UK structural engineering company. The engineering documentation detailed the required ballast at each tower base, the bracing arrangements and the required grade and specification of the supporting wires. Those requirements were followed during the er****on of the stage.
An NRC-qualified rigger remained on site throughout the live event days to supervise the structure and respond to changing conditions. When adverse weather damaged attachment points on one of the sidewalls and the large rear wall, the affected materials were dealt with under his supervision.
The damage concerned the fabric wall attachment points rather than the structural integrity of the stage. I am now working with the manufacturer to obtain replacement walls and roof material using a more suitable material choice and more robust attachment points.
The suggestion that the festival operated with an unsafe or unsupervised stage can therefore be dismissed by the factual arrangements that were in place, including the engineering documentation, the specified ballast and bracing, and the continued presence of the qualified rigger.
It is also important for me to clarify that the management of the event was primarily undertaken by me, with help from only a small handful of friends. Previous references to a āmanagement teamā may have created the impression that a larger professional event-management structure was in place. That was not the reality, and responsibility for the decisions made ultimately rests with me.
A significant amount had already been invested in purchasing the infrastructure required to establish the festival, including the stage, before substantial and unexpected additional costs arose.
Event Productions UK Ltd informed me that the advance payment was being returned and provided a screenshot relating to an attempted transfer through Airwallex. I was told the funds would reach Crazyfest Ltd within two to three working days. At the time of writing, the repayment has still not been received.
Whatever difficulty may have arisen with their chosen payment platform, Crazyfest Ltd was left having to secure emergency replacement production at extremely short notice while the original advance payment remained outstanding. This created a substantial and unexpected duplication of production costs, placing further pressure on the staffing and operational budget.
I attempted to personally cover too many roles. When the production setup was delayed, that delay had a knock-on effect across other areas of the festival. A few additional experienced staff members and volunteers would have made a considerable difference.
This is one of the clearest lessons I have taken from Year 1. Any future HayRock Festival would require dedicated event, production and stage management, clearly assigned responsibilities, sufficient backstage crew and volunteers, and stronger contingency arrangements should a key supplier fail to attend.
I also want to thank the customers who attended, supported the bands and remained patient while the difficulties were being addressed. I recognise that the festival did not meet everyoneās expectations and that meaningful improvements would be required before HayRock could return.
I am currently discussing the possibility of HayRock returning to Haydock Park for Year 2. Should those discussions be successful, the lessons from this year will form an essential part of the future planning, staffing and contingency arrangements.
I also intend to introduce the HayRock āFestvetsā scheme for Year 1 customers. This would provide a 20% discount for Year 2, followed by a permanent 10% discount from Year 3 onwards for the lifetime of each Year 1 customerās HayRock account.
Should HayRock return, my aim will be to demonstrate through actions that I have listened, learned and made the necessary improvements.
Paul
Festival Director, HayRock
