March 30, 2009

By By Richard Smirke, London

Creamfields, the long-running annual U.K. dance event, is selling a limited number of its 2009 festival tickets at a reduced rate in a move organisers claim reflects the current financial climate.

Effective today, 5,000 weekend tickets (including camping) will be made available at the special limited price of ?100.00 ($142.00) -- a ?15.00 ($21.00) reduction on the full price weekend/camping ticket and ?5.00 ($7.00) reduction on the full price weekend non-camping ticket.

Creamfields CEO James Barton said in a statement: We're in the midst of a recession with most people having to tighten their belts, so we've made the first 5,000 tickets as cheap as we possibly can. I hope this goes a little way to easing the cash burden for the people who have been there for us through thick and thin. On a first-come-first-serve basis, it will be our most dedicated fans who will benefit."

Day tickets for the 2009 event have also been frozen at last year's prices with a day pass for Aug. 29 costing ?57.50 ($81.61) plus booking fee. Day tickets for Aug. 30 cost ?53.50 ($75.93) plus booking fee.

Responding to the global recession and its impact on reduced consumer spending, a limited number of hospitality tickets have also undergone price reductions, with the majority of hospitality packages dropping ?25.00 ($35.50) from 2008 prices.

Creamfields takes place August Bank Holiday weekend (Aug. 29 to Aug.30) at Daresbury, Cheshire. Reduced price tickets go on sale today (March 30) via www.mixmag.net, the Web site operated by U.K. monthly dance music magazine MixMag.

The 2009 festival line-up is due to be announced by presenter Pete Tong on National Top 40 station BBC Radio 1 at 7pm on Friday (April 3).

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