A festival that saw Sheryl Crow and Rufus Wainwright headline this summer has announced it will not return next year.

Black Deer Festival, an outdoor Americana, rock and blues weekender at Eridge Park in Tunbridge Wells, will skip next summer with plans to come back to the county in 2026.

Organisers have cited ‘unpredictable ticket sales, ever-rising production costs and general economic conditions’ as the reason that the festival will be postponed next year.

Chris Russell-Fish, managing director of Black Deer Group, said: “Regretfully, due to the widely reported pressures on the festival industry, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone Black Deer Festival 2025.

“This is not a decision we've made lightly. We have explored all avenues to try to make it work next summer, but right now it just isn't feasible.

“We are immensely thankful for our audience, who come back year-on-year to discover and enjoy the brilliance that is Americana, which is why in June 2024, we launched Black Deer Live and Black Deer Radio to support our huge, growing community.”

Black Deer Live is a series of one-off concerts all over the country, with more than 40 gigs lined up so far, including dates in London and Brighton.

The team also has its sights set on a one-day Americana festival and a touring roadshow as ideas in the pipeline whilst also working on bringing back Black Deer Festival for 2026.

Festival co-founder Gill Tee said: “This is certainly not the end of the Black Deer story. We are so proud to have built one of the most wonderful festival communities over the past years - a community with a passion and love for Americana that matched ours.

“A huge, heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who has turned out each year ready to embrace all we created. I loved watching the joy on all your faces at the festival and to see you soak up the most wonderful festival atmosphere.

“To the incredible artists, crews, suppliers, and everyone at the magical Eridge Estate - home of Black Deer, together with all our supporters who've stood by us over the years, your dedication means everything.

“It's a tough time for independent festivals, and we couldn't have come this far without you. We are so very proud of all we have achieved to this point, it's been a real journey and it's not over yet."

The festival has hosted a series of star-studded performances over the past seven years, including headline sets from The Pretenders, Van Morrison, James and Bonnie Raitt.