Big Chill could return with a different look next year (From Hereford Times)

Big Chill could return with a different look next year

4:07pm Tuesday 24th July 2012 in Ledbury By Paul Rogers

THE Big Chill festival could return next year - but in a different format.
 

This year’s event at Eastnor Castle - due to take place next weekend - was called off in January because some artists could not commit due to the Olympics.
 

The news was met with disappointment amongst many local tradesmen and businesses, but the festival’s organiser has told the BBC that he hopes it will return next year with a different look.
 

"I'm sure something will return that will have a completely fresh take on what a festival should be," said Melvin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic.
 

“The Big Chill this year clashed, but more importantly it was me not being absolutely certain where I wanted to take the festival and what I was doing with the festival.
 

"I'm actually going down there next week to the very same site to have a look.
 

"I'll go with a couple of people that I hope will be working with me on - not the Big Chill, it won't necessarily be the Big Chill - but a replacement or something to be born out of that."
 

The music festival was first held at Eastnor Castle’s deer park in 2002.
It became popular for its relaxed atmosphere and environmental ideals, such as the ‘Leave No Trace’ campaign that encouraged festival-goers to keep the site clean.
 

Chillfest, the company run by festival founders Katrina Larkin and Pete Lawrence, went into administration in 2009.
 

It was purchased by Festival Republic, the group behind the Reading and Leeds Festivals, a few months later.
 

In the past the Big Chill has attracted more than 30,000 festival-goers and headliners including Kanye West, Leonard Cohen, Lily Allen and the Chemical Brothers.