Morecambe’s events calendar has suffered a significant setback with the announcement that the town’s longest-running music festival, Sleazy Live, will not take place in 2026. Organisers of the punk and ska event, formerly known as Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, confirmed the cancellation this week citing “circumstances beyond our control,” though they expressed a firm intention to return in 2027. The news comes alongside a separate announcement that the popular scooter weekend, Morecambe Rides Again, will also take a hiatus in 2026.
Founded in 2004 by Ivan Harrison and his family, Sleazy Live has been a staple of the local music scene for over two decades. The festival, which recently moved to Johnny’s Warehouse Bar on Marine Road Central, is renowned for continuing the town’s punk heritage established by the ‘Holidays in the Sun’ and ‘Wasted’ festivals of the 1980s and 90s.
In an emotional statement, founder Ivan Harrison expressed his devastation at the decision. “Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, unfortunately, but due to circumstances beyond our control we are going to have to cancel Sleazy Live for 2026,” he said. “This is the first time in 22 years, apart from Covid, that I have had to cancel this great event… I’m absolutely gutted to the core.”
- Refunds: Ticket holders for the 2026 event have been notified via email regarding refund procedures.
- Future Plans: Organisers are aiming to regroup for a return in 2027.
The cancellation highlights the fragile nature of the independent festival sector. The 2025 edition of the festival was famously saved at the eleventh hour by sponsorship from SORM Studios Ltd, a Bradford-based company that champions young people with disabilities. At the time, Harrison revealed the event had been in a “very difficult financial position” following the loss of other regional events like Highest Point and Vintage. SORM’s intervention not only secured the 2025 event but reinforced the festival’s long-standing commitment to providing opportunities for young adults with learning and physical disabilities to develop skills in the music industry.
Compounding the loss for the local economy, the organisers of Morecambe Rides Again have confirmed that their July 2026 event will not go ahead. The scooter weekend, which raises funds for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, usually features a ‘Ride Out’, a Custom Show on the Stone Jetty, and live music at The Alhambra.
A spokesperson for the scooter event cited rising operational costs and an increasingly crowded events calendar as primary factors. “The organising team are taking a year out which will give us the opportunity to give the event a refresh, and hopefully put us in a much better place for 2027,” they stated.
Both cancellations represent a blow to Morecambe’s hospitality sector, with thousands of visitors typically utilizing local hotels, guest houses, and restaurants during these weekends. However, the commitment from both organising teams to target a 2027 return offers hope that this hiatus will be temporary.
Image credits:
The Wub / CC BY-SA 4.0
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