Eridge Park Event

The next Black Deer American music festival has been cancelled but organisers hope the event will return in 2026.

The festival has been held in Eridge Park since 2018, regularly attracting 10,000 people.

The organisers blame the cancellation in 2025 on rising production costs and unpredictable ticket sales.

Gill Tee, co-founder of the festival, said: “This is certainly not the end of the Black Deer story. We are so proud to have built one of the most wonderful festive communities.”

Photo credit: Caitlin Mogridge

Photo credit: Catlin Mogridge

The festival focusses on Americana music, with previous headline performances including Van Morrison and Sheryl Crow.

The festival takes its name from the fact that Eridge Park is said to be the oldest deer park in Britain.

The Black Deer Group says it is now focusing on 44 live shows and its radio channel.

Chris Russel-Fish, Managing Director of Black Deer Group, said: “Whilst our three-day annual festival has brought Americana to many, we wanted to be able to bring Black Deer to even wider audiences around the UK—all year round.

“Through our new channels and our collective determination to do many more Black Deer Live Events in 2025, we are tremendously excited and looking forward to welcoming our current community and new fans to the genre as we roll out our other activities.”

The Association of Independent Festivals has reported that in 2024 the number of festivals postponed, cancelled, or completely closed has doubled since 2023.

More from WEST KENT NEWS

  • Linden Kemkaren Profiled

    Linden Kemkaren has often been in the the headlines during her first six months running Kent County Council, but how did her BBC and freelance career lead her to Kent's top job?

  • Have Reform Made Savings at KCC?

    It's six months since Reform UK were voted in to run Kent County Council, so do their claimed budget savings stack up?

  • Your Letters "Hidden"

    A former Royal Mail employee has said staff at Tonbridge sorting office would drive stockpiles of undelivered letters in lorries around the M25 to avoid them being seen by inspectors.

  • Lib Dems Hold St. John's

    The Liberal Democrats comfortably held onto the ward of St. John's in a Borough Council by-election on Thursday.

  • "Independent Reformers" Party Likely

    One of the five Reform UK councillors expelled from the party at Kent County Council has announced he'll set up a rival grouping.

  • Reform Expels 3 More

    Reform UK expelled another three county councillors from the party on Monday afternoon alleging “a pattern of dishonest and deceptive behaviour”.

  • Reform Expels Two Councillors

    Reform UK says its expelled two Kent County Councillors for "undermining the interests of the party".

  • Man Charged

    Kent police say a man has been charged with raping a teenage girl in Tunbridge Wells last weekend.

Comments

Add a comment

On Air Now Vince Cox 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Now Playing
Rock Your Baby George Mccrae
Recently Played
  • Oh Yeah (On The Radio) Roxy Music 16:18
  • Don't Sleep In The Subway Petula Clark 16:15
  • Tainted Love Soft Cell 16:13

COMING UP

  • Chris Woodward

    5:00pm - 7:00pm

    Sunday Extra

  • Pete Moore

    7:00pm - 9:00pm

    West Kent Country