Boardmasters Festival is a popular annual music and surfing festival, typically combining live music performances with surfing and skateboarding competitions. The event is held in two main locations: the music part of the festival occurs on the cliffs overlooking Watergate Bay, while the surfing competitions are hosted at Fistral Beach in Newquay, a town known for its surfing culture.

The festival features a wide range of music genres, including rock, indie, electronic, and hip-hop, attracting both major international artists and emerging talent. Alongside the music, the festival celebrates beach culture, with activities such as surf lessons, yoga sessions, and skateboarding.

This year, however, the festival experienced large crowds that threatened the safety of attendees. Following a crowd surge during Sam Fender’s performance, the festival confirmed that 7 individuals were hospitalised for minor injuries who have all since been discharged.

An update: pic.twitter.com/nUxVBwM0YS

— Boardmasters (@boardmasters) August 10, 2024

One 16-year-old who was near the front told Sky news: “When loads of people came in, I was pushed and fell on my back, with my leg twisted. It was hyperextended. It was incredibly painful, and I couldn’t get up. There were people on top of me, and I was on top of other people.”

In response to the crowd surge, Sam Fender’s performance had to be paused so that the individual’s could receive necessary medical attention.

 While the festival has not commented on contributing factors or causes of the crowd surge, overpopulated spaces are a common cause. Indeed, Boardmasters increased the size of the festival by 5000 people this year after the county council approved a licence application, meaning the event was attended by 58,000 in total.

Crowdsurges are not a new phenomena, and in April of 2024, UK Crowd Management Association, Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), LIVE, and the UK Door Security Association collaborated to produce a “groundbreaking” new crowd safety guide for venues. The guide was created in response to a number of high profile incidents resulting in injury or death, such as the death of two individuals at London’s O2 Acadamy Brixton in 2022 and Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival in 2021 where 10 people died and thousands were left injured in a crowd crush.

The safety guide outlines that its purpose is to:  “suggest a framework for the safety, security and optimal experience of attendees in indoor spaces that are smaller than arenas.”

Through the use of this guide, it is hoped that venues, festivals, music events and other performance spaces can reduce the likelihood of crowd surges from occurring.

Squire detailed the incident, sharing that he broke his wrist back in 2020 when playing basketball with his son. His thumb on his dominant hand was affected, leaving him unsure of whether his guitar-playing days would have to be put behind him. He said, “There was a question mark over whether I would get full use of it back.”

Fortunately, Squire has been able to regain his abilities through a rigorous regime of physiotherapy. The incident ultimately “didn’t just force him to play again; it reignited his desire to do so.”

Squire has recently collaborated with Liam Gallagher on a much-anticipated single, “Just Another Rainbow.” Speaking on the collaboration, Squire shared, “I think we were both surprised at how complementary my guitar tone is with his voice and how the songs I’ve written worked for him.“

Gallagher and Squire have hinted that this will be the start of an ongoing musical relationship, with Gallagher commenting, “If John comes up with another load of songs that are banging, they’ll get it as well. Squire’s got a lot more in him. People look at John as this guitar hero, but he definitely knows how to write a fucking song.”

Squire also reflected on the Stone Roses reunion back in 2016 which ultimately fell flat. The iconic 80s Manchester group came together to put out two new singles, “All For One” and “Beautiful Thing” but a new album never came to fruition. Despite selling out stadiums across the UK and headlining numerous festivals, Squire said, “the general feeling was that nobody was that into even being in a band together, never mind making an album.”

The Stone Roses ultimately disbanded again, leaving a lull in Squire’s music career. Instead, he turned to visual art, co-creating the artwork for “Just Another Rainbow.” He said, “It doesn’t matter how big or small it is, or whether it’s visual or sonic. What makes me tick is creating.”

When questioned on any regrets he may have had within his music career, Squire shared, “There’d be a trade-off. I might not be married. I might not have as many children and I might not have seen as much of them. I don’t feel like I’ve massively fucked up.”

Squire has hinted at more upcoming tracks and has teased some potential tour dates, though nothing has been confirmed as of yet.

Power Trip is an upcoming heavy metal music festival set to take place on 6th-8th October. Although this is the first instance of the event, it is being described as a sequel to 2016’s Desert Trip, a 6 day festival that also took place in Indio, California. Headliners of Desert Trip included Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, and The Who.

The rockstar was set to perform at Power Trip this October alongside headliners Metallica, AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses. However, in a statement released in July, Osbourne revealed that “Unfortunately, my body is telling me that I’m just not ready yet and I am much too proud to have the first show that I do in nearly five years be half-assed”.

As painful as this is, I’ve had to make the decision to bow out of performing on Power Trip in October.

My original plan was to return to the stage in the summer of 2024, & when the offer to do this show came in, I optimistically moved forward.

Unfortunately, my body is… pic.twitter.com/gHWEE8VuI6

— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) July 10, 2023

It has since been revealed that Judas Priest will serve as Ozzy’s replacement at the upcoming event.

The 74-year-old acquired a neck injury after a fall in 2019 that required 2 metal plates to be inserted into his spine. The result of this caused the singer more pain, and meant he required more surgery last year, from which he is still recovering. The heavy metal legend has also been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, all of which contributed to his decision to retire from touring. Osbourne made the announcement of his retirement on February 1st.

This is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to share with my loyal fans… pic.twitter.com/aXGw3fjImo

— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) February 1, 2023

Although the English rocker was optimistic about being able to return to the stage, his wife Sharon Osbourne stated in an interview with Rolling Stone that “He’s doing a lot better, but he still has a long way to go before he can perform a full concert.”

Sharon was joined by daughter Kelly Osbourne, who, when asked about her father’s decision not to perform at Power Trip, claimed that “We can’t talk about it in the house because it is just so heartbreaking to see that all he wants is just one more show”. 

“He said that if he can’t give his fans what they paid to see, he won’t do it”.

Although this decision was clearly very tough to make, Ozzy Osbourne assured fans in his announcement, “I love you all and I will see you soon.” 

In a social media announcement, the group apologised for the cancellation, explaining that singer Maxim is recovering from a “temporary back injury” – a setback which gives them no other choice but to call off their next couple of live shows.

The official statement adds: “This isn’t a decision the band take lightly and they apologise to all fans who are travelling to these shows. We will update everyone on his progress and future shows as soon as possible.”

The Prodigy have unfortunately been forced to cancel their upcoming headline festival performances at Dreambeach (ES) and Boomtown (UK) under doctor’s orders, as Maxim recovers from a temporary back injury. pic.twitter.com/uiITsxhTcI

— The Prodigy (@the_prodigy) August 10, 2023

The Essex rave rockers were due to take to the stage at Dreambeach Festival in Spain on 11 August, before travelling to Winchester on 13 August for their first performance in the city since 1992. In their own statement, Boomtown Fair wrote:

“There is no easy way to say this. We have just been made aware The Prodigy can no longer play at Boomtown 2023. […] We and the band are gutted and know you will be feeling the same. We are now working hard to bring this iconic band to Grand Central next year at Boomtown 2024. Until then we send Maxim our love and wish him a smooth recovery.”

Electronic duo Chase & Status have now been slated for headline replacement.

The last-minute withdrawal brings unfortunate news for Prodigy fans, many of whom would have been happy to have secured tickets to see a band that has, in recent years, spent less time on the road. The tragic passing of former member Keith Flint in 2019 coupled with the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a three-year touring hiatus, with the group finally returning to the stage in mid-2022. 

Earlier this year, The Prodigy released a four-track remix EP in celebration of the 25th anniversary of their groundbreaking third studio album, The Fat Of The Land. Upon its original release in 1997, the now-iconic LP – which contains hits such as “Firestarter” and “Breathe” – quickly topped charts worldwide, and has sold over 10 million copies to date. 

Check out Mefjus & Camo & Krooked’s remix of “Breathe” below:

Provided Maxim makes a speedy recovery, the band are set to play headline sets at a number of other festivals this Summer, before embarking on their Army Of The Ants tour in November.

See below for UK dates:

16/11/2023 – OVO Hydro – Glasgow
17/11 – AO Arena – Manchester
18/11 – First Direct Arena – Leeds
20/11 – Brighton Centre – Brighton
21/11 – International Arena – Cardiff
23/11 – Utilita Arena – Birmingham 
24/11 – Alexandra Palace – London

Get tickets here.

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The message detailed that Big Jeff was in a stable condition in a specialist burns unit in Swansea and asked people to keep him in their thoughts and prayers.

A true legend of the Bristol music scene, I myself remember his head frequently bobbing at the front of nearly every show I went to when I lived in the city. He began going to shows while at college as a means of coping with his anxiety and to give him reason to leave his accommodation which was often a great source of it. Gigs became a safe space for him where he could escape judgment and enjoy the music he loved, and before long he could be seen on the front row of multiple shows a week.

Having now racked up attendance at over 4000 shows since his days at college as reported by the BBC, Big Jeff has also turned his attention to being an artist over the years and quite a celebrated one at that. Placing as a finalist in this years Bristol Life Awards, Jeff’s exhibition “Welcome To My World” drew great acclaim from fellow artists and critics in the Bristol scene. Explaining the intention of his work on his website, he says “The aim of this work is to surprise and challenge the viewer. It is intended to instigate conversations”. He then goes on to describe how art has been a great personal help to him in expressing emotions that aren’t always easy to discuss “Art for me has been about expressing emotions I can’t explain another way. These paintings highlight my issues with barriers and hidden anxiety and mental health. How people see me is one thing – but internally I sometimes feel completely different. I use art as a way of expressing things that aren’t always easy to discuss”. 

A shining light and a true ambassador for Bristol and the South West, Big Jeff has long been an avid music lover and entrenched force for good in the UK. We wish him the swiftest of recoveries and hope to see him down on the front row again soon.