Some country music fans attending the Midlands Music Festival at the weekend were not made aware that it started three hours earlier on Friday and Saturday than originally billed and missed their favourite acts.
Staged in the grounds of Ballinlough Castle, Athboy, Co Meath, the festival had originally scheduled three stages of music but cut this back to two when it was discovered that the demographic attending the festival were not willing to move between stages. Because of this change, the festival started earlier on both days.
Promoter John Reynolds, of Pod Concerts, said an effort was made to inform all ticket-holders about the earlier starting time of the festival on both days. "We contacted as many people as possible about the change in the running order through Ticketmaster and other outlets. We got to as many people as we could." Mr Reynolds said the decision to start the festival earlier was made two weeks ago. About three of the smaller acts were cancelled due to the restructuring of the festival, according to the festival's public relations firm.
Helen Brennan, who went to the festival on Friday, said she was not made aware that the music was starting at 12.30pm instead of 3.30pm and subsequently missed her favourite act. "I wasn't made aware of the time change. I missed Guy Clark, the person I had come to see. It was a big disappointment," she said.
Mr Reynolds said feedback on the festival's website indicated that fans would prefer to sit on deckchairs and watch the musicians rather than move from stage to stage. "A different festival concept was created. They didn't want to go from stage to stage like at your typical music festival. A natural amphitheatre was created," he said.
Ms Brennan also complained that security guards at the festival had a "bullying" attitude at times and that there was a 40-minute queue for the ladies' toilets.
Mr Reynolds said that all the feedback from the festival had so far been "overwhelmingly positive", but he acknowledged the lengthy toilet queues and promised to improve the festival next year. He said about 12,500 people attended on Friday and 14,000 on Saturday, which was "slightly disappointing".