31 events have already been cancelled this year, just three short of the 34 festivals axed in 2010. But in the past fortnight the rate of casualties has escalated leaving in fear that record numbers of live music fans will be left disappointed this year.

Just this month First Days of Freedom in Kent and Aberdeen's Northern Lights have been called off and August is shaping up to be just as bleak with Chalgrove in Oxfordshire, Exeter's Devon Rox and ...