CMAT Apologises as LIDO Festival Headline Slot Axed Over Victoria Park Concerns
Irish singer CMAT has expressed her devastation after her headline appearance at London's LIDO Festival was cancelled due to ongoing issues with Victoria Park's condition.
CMAT's LIDO Festival Date Scrapped Amid Victoria Park Troubles
Irish singer CMAT has issued a heartfelt apology to her fanbase following the cancellation of her headline performance at London's LIDO Festival, after organisers were forced to significantly restructure the event due to deteriorating conditions at Victoria Park.
What Happened to LIDO Festival?
Originally scheduled to run across three days from 12 to 14 June at Victoria Park in East London, LIDO Festival has been dramatically scaled back to a single standalone event on 31 August. Festival organisers cited the need to "protect park conditions" as the primary reason behind the sweeping changes.
According to a statement released by the festival, the damage stems from what they described as "one of the wettest winters in recent history," which severely disrupted an "extensive reseeding and improvement programme" underway at the park. Advisors subsequently recommended allowing the newly treated areas additional recovery time before hosting any large-scale events.
Artists Affected by the Cancellation
Alongside CMAT, several other notable acts have lost their performance slots as a result of the restructured programme. Singer-songwriter Father John Misty and beloved British indie group Bombay Bicycle Club are among those who will no longer take to the stage under the original lineup.
Electronic duo Maribou State, along with a selection of supporting acts, will now headline the rescheduled single-day show in August.
Organisers were clear to emphasise that "the changes are in no way the fault of the artists" involved.
CMAT Speaks Out
CMAT, known for her distinctive Euro-Country sound, expressed genuine disappointment over the turn of events. In a statement shared across her social media platforms, she said she is "truly devastated not to be able to play this festival."
Acknowledging the inconvenience caused to fans who had already purchased tickets or arranged travel, the singer added: "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."
Background: A Park Under Pressure
This is not the first time Victoria Park has faced festival-related difficulties. During the previous summer, the venue suffered severe dust problems throughout multiple events, a situation organisers attributed to drought conditions at the time. The combination of last summer's dry spell and this winter's excessive rainfall has left the park in a vulnerable state heading into the 2025 festival season.
Refunds and What Comes Next
Festival organisers have confirmed that all existing ticketholders will receive a full refund, offering some reassurance to those impacted by the abrupt schedule overhaul.
LIDO Festival, which made its debut in 2025 and positions itself as "a fan-first festival," welcomed high-profile acts including Massive Attack, Charli XCX, and London Grammar during its inaugural year.
Meanwhile, the All Points East festival, which is also set to be held at Victoria Park in August, has confirmed to BBC Newsbeat that its event will proceed as planned and remains unaffected by the issues surrounding LIDO.
