Ep. 17 – John Rostron (AIF): Chaos, Power Cuts and the Fight for Grassroots Music

Welcome to Series 3 of When Shit Goes Wrong at Events - the podcast giving listeners a backstage pass to the often unheard stories of event organising.In this episode, Freddie Sparrow chats with John Rostron, CEO of the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), about a career shaped by a love of music, early chaos, and lessons learned the hard way. From losing money on first events to championing grassroots venues, John shares what it really takes to make live music thrive.Topics covered:How a love of music and organising led John into promoting.Why “never trust a promoter who’s never lost money” matters.Why local venues and knowledge are essential - and how co-promoting can work.Power outages, artists walking off stage, and handling live emergencies.Connect with host Freddie Sparrow, Co-Founder of Vento, and guest John Rostron, CEO of the AIF.This episode is sponsored by Vento Insurance - specialists in protecting live events when sh*t goes wrong. For event insurance advice, email [email protected].