BL-2023-NCL-000014 - [2025] EWHC 2074 (Ch)

In this case, the men behind SSD Music were, effectively, a Mr Stephen Davis (“Steve Davis”) and his brother Paul Davis. Steve Davis appears to have been involved more in the financial side of SSD Music and plays a more prominent role in the facts of this case.

SSD Music was one of a number of connected companies. By 2022, the holding company of SSD Music was a company then called SSD Industries Limited but re-named in June 2022 as IG Industries Limited. I refer to this company as “IG Industries”.

SSD Concerts appears to have been a trading name for the “SSD group” of companies, though it may not have been a “group” in the technical Companies Act sense. A brochure from 2022 shows, under this trading name, some 8 festivals, 4 venues, 2 pop up events and an on-line platform.

In this judgment I sometimes refer to SSD as a generic term for SSD Music and its associated companies (and as including, in particular, IG Industries) without identifying which particular SSD company was concerned.

In 2020, the covid pandemic caused the postponement of the 2020 Bingley festival. It was postponed ultimately until 2022. In 2022 the festival was known as “Bingley Weekender 2022” and was held at Bradford Rugby Club (the “2022 Festival”). It took place over the weekend of Friday 5 August to Sunday 7 August and featured headline performers such as Rag “N” Bone Man, The Libertines and Pixies.

As the date for the 2022 Festival approached, there were increasing concerns regarding the financial viability of the same and indeed of SSD Music which was responsible for organising a number of events and festivals, in addition to the Bingley Weekender.