UK Festival HighRise Cancelled Following Sexual Assault Allegations Against Founder

HighRise, a UK festival scheduled for September, has been cancelled in the wake of sexual assault allegations involving its organizer, Guy Hughes. The festival’s cancellation followed the withdrawal of several acts, including Iration Steppas, Aba Shanti-I, and Channel One Sound System, after a now-deleted statement from Hughes surfaced online.

Resident Advisor has confirmed the festival’s cancellation, with ticket holders also demanding refunds upon seeing Hughes’s Instagram post addressing the allegations. Although the post has been removed, Hughes mentioned the presence of “exacerbating rumors” and “virtue signaling” in response to the allegations. He acknowledged making a mistake and took accountability for misjudging a matter of consent within a past relationship. Hughes called for more open conversations about consent, particularly in long-term relationships.

As news of the allegations spread, artists such as Worm Disco Club, Sinai Sound System, and Channel One Sound System pulled out of the festival, citing a lack of action from the festival director and the censoring of comments related to the sexual assault allegations. Anonymous sources also spoke out against Hughes, expressing their refusal to support someone who engages in sexual assault. Ticket holders expressed their concerns and demanded refunds, stating that they could not support an individual involved in such behavior.

In response to the developments, Hughes expressed regret over certain parts of his statement and acknowledged the need for rewording. HighRise’s official Facebook page confirmed the festival’s cancellation and stated that they are currently processing refunds for ticket holders. The festival was initially planned to take place from September 7th to 11th in Huntington, on the site previously used by the Secret Garden Party.