Sacha Lord, the founder of Manchester’s Parklife festival and The Warehouse Project, has stepped down.
Lord, who is also Manchester’s Night Time Economy Advisor, confirmed the move last week following a transfer of shares to LN Gaiety – a subsidiary of concert and festival giant Live Nation, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Live Nation-Gaiety is the joint venture between two of the world’s leading live entertainment companies: Live Nation and Gaiety Investments. In 2016 the international group Live Nation-Gaiety Holdings bought shares in The Warehouse Project and Parklife festival.
The agreement at the time meant The Warehouse Project brand and Parklife Festival would benefit from a combination of both parties’ international experience in the sector.
Lord said: “The decision to step down was not an easy one for me to make. I will miss the team, the events, the customers, I’ll even miss the stress and the late nights, but I’ve known for a long time that Parklife 2024 was going to be the last for me.
“There could not have been a more perfect moment for me to step away than now – exactly 30 years since my first event at The Hacienda – and I’m so excited for what’s to come. This decision will free up my time to focus on my roles in the night time economy and hospitality sectors, and of course, most importantly, the birth of my first child with my beautiful wife Demi later this year.”
He continued: “I’d like to thank the millions of people who have stepped foot into The Warehouse Project or Parklife over the last few decades, and those who have supported me and the team. I would also like to thank the tens of thousands of staff members we’ve had over the years, the suppliers, and those closest to me for putting up with the late nights. I am very excited to watch from afar, and I’d like to wish the team the very best going forward.”
Lord founded The Warehouse Project in 2006 with business partner Sam Kandel. He then launched Parklife in 2010 at Platt Fields before moving the festival to Heaton Park.
The latter saw this year’s event headlined by Doja Cat and Disclosure but a number of acts pulled out including Fisher and J Hus.
Lord was made the region’s first Night Time Economy Adviser by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, advising on all issues relating to the sector, including the lobbying of later opening hours and the development of night-time transport links.
He says he will now continue his work as a voice for hospitality across the UK in his role and in his position as Chair of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA).
The post Sacha Lord steps down from Manchester’s Parklife and The Warehouse Project appeared first on NME.
