Irish music promoter Vince Power, who was involved in UK festivals such as Reading and Leeds, and Glastonbury, has died at the age of 76.
Power founded venue and events group Mean Fiddler in the 1980s, after opening a venue of the same name in Harlesden, London which was established using profits from Power’s successful second-hand furniture shop.
He then went on to take control of the ailing Reading Festival (pictured) at the end of the decade, before establishing further events such as Leeds, and Phoenix festival. Power also built up a portfolio of London venues, including the Jazz Cafe, the Garage and the Astoria.
Mean Fiddler took a stake in the UK’s flagship festival Glastonbury in 2002, before this was bought back in 2012.
The group accepted a takeover bid from a co-operative company owned by Live Nation UK and Irish event organiser MCD in 2005, and the following year reduced its work in touring and promotion to concentrate on festivals.
Latitude Festival, which takes place in Suffolk, was founded in 2006, and in 2007 the group was sold along with a number of venues to Mama Group. What remained of Mean Fiddler Group became the current UK festival promoter, Festival Republic.
Reading and Leeds, Wireless, Download Festival and Latitude, as well as Ireland’s Electric Picnic, are all still run by Festival Republic.
The Irish Embassy in London paid tribute to Power on X, formerly known as Twitter, and said: “Saddened to learn of the passing of Vince Power. He worked throughout his career to champion Irish culture, leaving an indelible impact on the music scene in Britain.”
Saddened to learn of the passing of Vince Power.
He worked throughout his career to champion Irish culture, leaving an indelible impact on the music scene in Britain.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam https://t.co/hKRQQgoFsc
— Embassy of Ireland (@IrelandEmbGB) March 11, 2024
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