'All-Dark' In The Park

The organisers of the Lark in the Park music festival, scheduled to take place in Moira at the end of this month, have announced it is to be cancelled.

The festival, along with Belsonic, was hoped to be one the biggest outdoor music festivals in Northern Ireland this year, with some hefty names on the card, but the festivities have been cut short by today's announcement.

Announcing the decision today, Chairperson of Lark in the Park Mandie Brankin said: "It is with deep regret that we have had to cancel this year’s Lark in the Park.

"Various factors played a part but primarily the current economic climate and it’s knock on effect on our ticket sales have lead to this decision."

Headliners Athlete, Razorlight and The Divine Comedy are arguably on the downward slope of their popularity, having little chart or popular success in recent years. Neil Hannon of Northern Irish band The Divine Comedy had experienced some critical success with The Duckworth Lewis Method – a side project band with one album focussed on the game of cricket – but failed to make a chart impact.

Indie band Athelete - who had a platinum album in 2005 but little success since then - recently revealed to entertainment guide The Big List that the band would be calling it quits at the end of the year, while Razorlight's Johnny Burrel sacked most of his band in late 2010.

The collapse of the festival will be most crushing to other Northern Irish acts who were hoping the festival could provide a platform to new fans, such as Mojo Fury, Foy Vance, Cashier No.9, Silhouette and A Plastic Rose.

Concluding, Ms Brankin said: "Lark in the Park would like to thank all those who have given their support to our event and we hope that we can re-group and hold the event again next year.

"All those who have tickets can return to point of purchase for a full refund."

(DW/BMcC)