KnockanStockan festival says goodbye for now

KnockanStockan festival will not return for a 2020 edition. The organisers said in a statement that they are not sure what the future holds, but this isn't the end for KnockanStockan,

The well-loved Irish festival has occurred for the last 13 years in Wicklow, highlighting some of the best and brightest of homegrown talent in the beautiful countryside. Magical and hippie-like in nature, the festival emerged as one of the top festivals in the Irish summer circuit and prided itself on inclusivity.

Organisers did not cite one specific reason for the festival's hiatus, however there was a consensus that they didn't want to do put KnockanStockan on again this year "just for the sake of it." They said:

"There’s no one reason why a good thing comes to an end, nor are we sure if this is the end. To be honest we don’t know what this is. All we do know is that KnockanStockan is too important to us and to so many others to just do for the sake of it, without the love and care and passion that made it what it was. If KnockanStockan is going to thrive again it’s going to need to change and that change is going to take time. We’re going to take that time and make sure that what we do next is the right thing for each of us and the right thing for KnockanStockan."

Despite the difficulties that come along with putting on a big festival each summer, they look back at the memories fondly.

"There’s no denying that there is magic in those hills and there’s a decade plus of music and memories to prove it. It wasn’t always easy and it wasn’t always fun. In fact sometimes it was soul destroyingly difficult. But it was always real. And that’s probably what made it so special. From the early, messy, outrageous, ridiculously expensive session in a field days to the smooth running, mostly on time, beautiful art having, almost breaking even, bonafide festival days, it’s always been real. And that has been reflected by the acts who played each year. By the crew who worked each year. And by the people who came to share and celebrate that hard work and music."

After such a great experience last year, we'll miss KnockanStockan this time around.