SONGPEOPLE.CO.UK LISTEN. RATE. WIN

One thousand names have been signed to a petition and presented to the London Assembly in opposition of the cancellation of a major music festival, though Finsbury Park mayor cancelled the event in order to conserve funds, the BBC reports.

Boris Johnson, mayor of Finsbury Park, has established that though the event has been an annual event since 1996, not hosting it this year will conserve £551,000 – which is what it cost to put on the festival last year. 

According to a London Assembly spokesman, the group believes that the public money in question can be put to better use, rather than to “fund a multitude of events and grassroots activities across London.”

Last year there were over 100,000 in attendance at the Rise Festival, and those that came were able to enjoy headlining performances by acts like CSS, Public Enemy, and De La Soul. 

At least one assembly member was in disagreement with the decision; Jeanette Arnold said, “I think the mayor’s decision was wrong, hasty and revealed his ignorance of what the festival represented for thirteen years before Boris. All we can hope is that the strength of feeling behind this campaign might just make him see the light.”

Rather than put on the Rise Festival, Boris launched Rhythm of London, which is to be a two day event that caters to increasing opportunities in music for youths. 
The aforementioned spokesman claimed that the cost of organizing Rise was too much to spend on one single event, “particularly during a recession.” He went on to say that the assembly would be quite willing to consider holding a major music festival in the future, depending on whether or not corporate funders would come forward to help out with finances.