Southport Weekender Dance, Soul and Hip-Hop Festival Ending after 28-Year Run in UK

Promoters have announced that the popular Southport Weekender will end its run following the 2015 event, 28 years after its initial performance. UpNorth Promotions said in a statement that rising costs and higher festival expectations were the cause for the closure (from Resident Advisor).

"We have always strived and done our best to bring you way beyond the seemingly possible and unexpected with yet another fantastic line up for Weekender 52, but sadly times have caught up and with rising costs and expectations we just cannot continue beyond this year. Sadly all things eventually run their course and we feel that we have no choice but to finally rest the great old warhorse that is the Southport Weekender with dignity and a massive celebration in seven weeks time," read the statement from the company. "Please do not think this decision has been taken lightly, it's been absolutely gut wrenching for weeks now."

This year's festival will be held at the Butlin's Resort in Minehead, an area west of Bridgewater in the UK, from May 8-10. This will be the 52nd rendition of the event (most years featured two iterations).

The initial event was organized by Alex Lowes during 1987 as soul music "weekenders" were gaining popularity on the south coast of the country. He aimed to make Southport Weekender slightly more "progressive," bringing in some of the now more iconic names in hip-hop to perform, including A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Jill Scott, Gangstarr and The Pharcyde.

This year's lineup will feature Masters At Work, Kerri Chandler, Chez Damier, Marcellus Pittman, Ron Trent, Mad Mats, Joey Negro, Paul Trouble Anderson, Jocelyn Brown and Peven Everett, among others.

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A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Jill Scott