Irish singer CMAT has expressed that she is “truly devastated” after her headline appearance at London’s Lido Festival was cancelled. The Dublin-born artist, whose real name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, was scheduled to lead the festivities on June 12, but a sudden shift in the event’s scheduling has left her and several other performers unable to grab the stage.
The cancellation comes as festival organisers grapple with the physical state of the venue. The event, which was slated to take place from June 12 to 14 at Victoria Park in east London, was forced into a partial rescheduling due to critical concerns regarding the condition of the park grounds.
In a heartfelt message to her followers on Instagram, the 30-year-old musician apologised for the disruption, acknowledging the logistical nightmare for fans who had already arranged travel to see her perform. CMAT confirmed that because the event was moved to late August, she—and other artists on the bill—could no longer fulfill their dates.
“I am very very sorry to tell you that due to issues with the ground at Victoria Park, Lido Festival has to move to new dates in August, and I – like others on the bill – am no longer able to play,” CMAT wrote. “As a result our Lido show can’t be rescheduled and won’t go ahead. Automatic refunds are available from the promoter.”
The singer added: “I am truly devastated not to be able to play this festival. I realise this will cause issues for some of you who have bought tickets and may be travelling and for that I can only say sorry.”
The struggle for sustainable staging
The decision to move the dates was not a simple administrative shift but a necessity driven by environmental protection. Organisers stated on Thursday that the festival was “unable to take place in June to protect park ground conditions,” describing the preservation of the venue as being of “paramount importance.”
This tension between large-scale event production and land conservation is a central theme for the Lido Festival, which launched last year with a stated commitment to sustainability and green initiatives. However, the reality of a harsh British winter has proven a formidable opponent. Indie rock band Bombay Bicycle Club, who were set to headline on June 14, highlighted the specific causes behind the venue’s instability.
The group—consisting of Jack Steadman, Jamie MacColl, Suren de Saram, and Ed Nash—shared their own disappointment on Instagram, noting that the current ground issues are a “knock-on effect of the function 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 sense about the impact on fans who have bought tickets,” the band wrote. “We realize 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.”
A fractured lineup and rescheduling
The logistical fallout of the move has left the festival’s original three-day structure in pieces. Whereas some artists were able to pivot to the new dates, most were not. The June 12 and June 14 dates have been cancelled entirely due to scheduling conflicts with the artists.
Only the June 13 lineup, which was to be headlined by the electronic duo Maribou State, has successfully transitioned to a new date on August 31. This leaves a significant portion of the original bill—including highly anticipated sets from Father John Misty, Katy J Pearson, and Junior Brother—in limbo or cancelled.
| Original Date | Headline Act | Status | New Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 12 | CMAT | Cancelled | N/A |
| June 13 | Maribou State | Rescheduled | August 31 |
| June 14 | Bombay Bicycle Club | Cancelled | N/A |
For those who purchased tickets for the cancelled dates, organisers have assured the public that full, automatic refunds will be processed through the promoter. The sudden loss of these headline gigs represents a significant blow to the event’s momentum, especially for a burgeoning festival trying to establish a reputation for both ecological responsibility and high-tier curation.
The incident underscores the growing difficulty of hosting urban festivals in public spaces like Victoria Park, where the balance between public utility and commercial event use is often precarious. As the music industry faces increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint and minimize land degradation, the Lido Festival’s struggle serves as a cautionary example of how climate volatility—specifically a wet winter—can derail complex touring schedules.
While CMAT and Bombay Bicycle Club are no longer part of the event, the focus now shifts to the remaining August 31 date. Ticket holders and fans are encouraged to monitor the festival’s official Instagram channel for further updates regarding the rescheduled Maribou State performance and any potential additions to the August bill.
We would love to hear from you: Have you been affected by the Lido Festival cancellations, or do you think more festivals should prioritize ground conditions over dates? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
