A music festival in the Highlands has been cancelled after performers were left furious at not being paid.
The organisers of the Brew at the Bog event on the outskirts of Inverness revealed the “sad news” yesterday.
The cancellation emerged as artists who performed at this year’s festival complained that they had still not received their fees.
Announcing the news on the event’s social media page yesterday, Yvonne Murray, of organisers Mint77, said: “Brew at the Bog will no longer be taking place in 2017.
“All early bird ticket holders will be refunded at point of purchase.
“Sad news, and we may or may not be back one day. Thanks for the memories.”
The event at Bogbain Farm grew rapidly after it was first staged in 2012, with the capacity rising from 500 to more than 3,000 this year.
This year’s event on the first weekend in June was headlined by Idlewild, White, the La Fontaines and Blazin’ Fiddles.
Bruce MacGregor, director of Bogbain and a musician with Blazin’ Fiddles, confirmed that his band had not been paid for performing this year.
He said: “It is really disappointing in many respects as the festival was a great champion of unsigned and emerging Scottish talent, and had built up a loyal following.
“However, as with many of the events that happen at Bogbain, we were just the venue but weren’t involved in the actual running of the festival.
“My own band Blazin’ Fiddles finds itself in the same situation as many of the unpaid bands from this year’s event.
“On a positive note, we are in discussions with a number of other promoters and local musicians about hosting our own event next summer, maybe a reprise of the Northern Roots Festival.
“We hope this will help fill the void left by Brew.”
Festival-goers expressed their disappointment at the demise of the festival on social media last night.
One wrote: “Such sad news. It was one of the best out there.”
Another said: “Gutted to hear this. We were looking forward to coming back next year.”
Ms Murray did not respond to the Press and Journal’s requests for further comment last night.
