Monmouth Rising Festival: The Scam That Nearly Fooled the Music Industry
A grand plan to launch a music festival boasting the likes of The Killers, Pulp, Def Leppard, and Wet Leg has turned out to be nothing more than an elaborate scam. Billed as the world’s first hydrogen-powered festival, Monmouth Rising was supposed to take place over a three-day weekend this August in Monmouth, Wales. However, it never materialized, and the festival’s backer, James Kenny, is now being exposed for what has been described as an orchestrated lie.
The False Promise of a Mega Festival
Monmouth Rising promised an enormous line-up, an eco-friendly festival powered by hydrogen, and a grand celebration of music. Despite boasting a 45,000-capacity venue, luxurious features, and a star-studded line-up, the festival was based on pure fabrication. According to News’ investigation, James Kenny, a convicted fraudster, claimed to have secured big-name performers and a substantial economic impact assessment from the Welsh government—none of which turned out to be true.
Kenny, who had once run a nightclub in Liverpool, convinced suppliers, employees, and even some investors that Monmouth Rising was going to be the UK’s biggest festival. He promised a multi-million-pound event that would rival Latitude. Despite the doubts raised, Kenny’s charm and audacity won over many, including Chris Whitehouse, a music producer who was asked to produce a soundtrack for a promotional video featuring a performance by Idris Elba.
The Cracks Start to Show
However, as the planning progressed, cracks began to appear in the story. Bands like Groove Armada and Whigfield were supposedly booked, but their agents denied any involvement. Music industry veterans who had worked on festivals for years began questioning the authenticity of Kenny’s claims. For instance, he insisted that high-profile events like the Paris Olympics used the same software for site planning, but these assertions couldn’t be verified.
Even the festival’s website, which promised cutting-edge features and innovative designs, turned out to be hastily constructed using free trial software. As the date approached, employees were no longer receiving payments, and the website went offline. Vendors and contractors, some of whom had provided thousands of pounds worth of work, began asking questions. They soon realized they had been swindled.
A Pattern of Deception
This was not the first time James Kenny had promised grand ventures that never came to fruition. In the past, he had failed to deliver a cocktail festival in Liverpool, leaving investors and employees out of pocket. His pattern of deception included forging documents to secure loans, fabricating business partnerships, and making false claims about his connections with major figures in the industry.
Despite his questionable past, Kenny managed to convince suppliers like Adam Purslow, who built the festival’s website for a “cut-price” rate. Purslow, like many others, was promised substantial financial backing, but no money ever arrived. When confronted, Kenny would provide dubious documents that raised even more suspicion. A forged £200,000 international transfer receipt from Malta, along with other similar documents, failed due diligence checks and were reported to authorities.
The Collapse and Aftermath
By February, it was clear to many involved that Monmouth Rising was a fantasy. Kenny canceled the festival in March, claiming that it was no longer “viable,” and promised refunds to ticket holders and vendors. However, it was reported that only 24 tickets had been sold, and these buyers had already received their refunds via the ticketing company. Vendors, many of whom had invested significant amounts into the event, were still waiting for their money back.
Despite this, Kenny continued to insist that he had intended for the festival to happen, citing health and financial strain as the reasons for its collapse. However, many who were involved no longer believe his claims. One employee called Kenny “a fantasist and a narcissist,” lamenting how he had been able to deceive so many people into believing in a completely fabricated event.
Questions About How This Got So Far
One of the biggest questions now is how such a large-scale scam could get this far without being uncovered sooner. With claims of high-profile investors, big-name acts, and even governmental support, Monmouth Rising was on the verge of pulling off something big. The involvement of real suppliers and event professionals only made the deception harder to spot.
Kenny’s extensive history of failed projects, forgeries, and unkept promises should have raised alarms, but in an industry that thrives on big ideas and bold claims, many were swept up in the excitement of a potential mega festival. Ultimately, it seems that Monmouth Rising was doomed from the start.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJEdNFucdLY
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