THERE will be no Guernsey Live next year. Organiser Positiv is pulling out of staging the music festival because of financial concerns and doubts over securing an appropriate venue and time to stage it.

‘At this time, Guernsey Live will not be taking place in 2009,’ said Positiv director Warren Holt. ‘We need to find a more appropriate site and date and the event needs to be underwritten to allow it to grow into a sustainable business. Until these things are in place we cannot confirm it will happen, unfortunately.’

Culture and Leisure minister Mike O’Hara was surprised and disappointed by the decision as the department was due to sit down with Positiv in the next couple of weeks to discuss plans for next year.

‘It’s up to them. We are disappointed, but it’s clearly their decision. I’m sure it will disappoint a lot of people. We were very keen to get them on board.’

May’s event at Victoria Avenue cost in the region of £500,000 and organisers are believed to have suffered a £200,000 loss. The site had a capacity of 7,500 people, but only about 3,000 and 3,500 turned out on the Saturday and Sunday respectively to see artists including Biffy Clyro and Editors.