Why Drag Fest UK Is “The Fyre Festival of Drag”

Drag Fest UK is an annual drag music festival featuring some of the biggest names in drag. It’s happening in London and Manchester this weekend — but over the past few days, a ton of the performers have dropped out of the lineup, pointing to poor communication and mismanagement. What exactly is going on?

Klub Kids UK, the festival’s promoters, addressed the situation on Twitter, claiming that COVID regulations made this year’s Drag Fest very difficult to organize. “We are going to work on getting these artists back with Klub Kids later this year when we can be more prepared and organised,” they wrote.

1/2 We would like to publicly apologise to those artists that we cannot get to Drag Fest UK this year.
We only knew 2 weeks ago that this event was going ahead, with Covid rules constantly changing this has really hit this event hard……..

— Klub Kids UK (@klubkids_uk) August 10, 2021

2/2 . We are going to work on getting these artists back with Klub Kids later this year when we can be more prepared and organised. Big love to everybody.
Artists not attending @trinitykbonet @VanderVonOdd @ErikaKlash @LailaMcQueen @SheaCoulee @BiqtchPuddin Ursula @abhora_sucks

— Klub Kids UK (@klubkids_uk) August 10, 2021

But with tickets starting at £54, fans aren’t taking the loss lightly, especially considering some of the legendary performers who will no longer be appearing. Queens who’ve dropped out include “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alumni Shea Coulee, Trinity K. Bonet, Miz Cracker, Pearl, Acid Betty and Laila McQueen, as well as “Dragula” monsters Vander Von Odd, Biqtch Puddin’, Abhora, Ursula Major and Erika Klash. Festivals changing lineups isn’t too out of the ordinary, but this volume of performers dropping out is certainly raising eyebrows.

Many of the queens took to social media to explain why they wouldn’t be appearing. “Dragula” Season 1 winner Vander Von Odd tweeted about a startling lack of communication from promoters even days before the festival, and that tickets were on sale for a meet and greet she’d never agreed to. “I had no idea these were being sold and I never would have agreed to it,” she wrote. “​​If you are working/attending Drag Fest UK, please be safe and always put your health first.”

I’m so sorry to anyone who bought tickets in hopes of seeing me and especially those that bought meet & greet tickets. I had no idea these were being sold and I never would have agreed to it. Hope to be back in the UK in a safer, not so far future 🖤🖤🖤 pic.twitter.com/lGtW5THind

— Vander Von Odd (@VanderVonOdd) August 10, 2021

“Dragula” Season 2 winner Biqtch Puddin’ explained to her followers that she’d been trying to communicate with the promoters for months, to no avail. “I understand it’s a pandemic & things change but there was no communication,” she wrote. “But I wanted you to know & let you know that I’ve been trying to get em to stop misleading ya. Cause I love you. You’re amazing, you’re beautiful & I can’t wait to b back in the UK soon.”

So my team has been reaching out since April about @dragfestuk1. We never got a response. No contract, no update – nothing. I have sent DM’s asking them to reply. I was never communicated about any logistics for the event or notified that they were selling a group meet & greet P1 pic.twitter.com/9Jv1MYbMdN

— Biqtch Puddin’ (@BiqtchPuddin) August 8, 2021

My team reached out to @klubkids_uk to say, send a contract/agreement or stop advertising me, but here’s the thing, I don’t know why, these people never responded. And that’s not OK. I never want to disappoint you. – we’re all going through so much right now. P2

— Biqtch Puddin’ (@BiqtchPuddin) August 8, 2021

I understand it’s a pandemic & things change but there was no communication. But I wanted you to know & let you know that I’ve been trying to get em to stop misleading ya. Cause I love you. You’re amazing, you’re beautiful & I can’t wait to b back in the UK soon.
xøxö
– Puddin P3

— Biqtch Puddin’ (@BiqtchPuddin) August 8, 2021

And “Drag Race” Season 8 contestant Acid Betty revealed her name had been put on the flyer without her ever actually being booked for the festival. “I am so sorry to anyone who was deceived, but I had no contracts & never knew much about the event,” she tweeted, accompanied by a highly appropriate tea emoji.

☕️ pic.twitter.com/E6Dzdg17MB

— Acid Betty (@acidbettyrocks) August 11, 2021

Bob the Drag Queen, winner of Season 8 of “Drag Race,” was never booked for the festival, but that didn’t stop her from commenting on it. “I don’t know what going on with the fest but it sounds like the Fyre Festival of drag,” she tweeted. So true, Bob.

I don’t know what going on with the fest but it sounds like the Fyre Festival of drag.

— Black Lives Still Matter (@thatonequeen) August 11, 2021

And Season 10 winner Aquaria also entered the conversation, tweeting, “Dababy will not be appearing at DragFest this weekend 😔.” A true loss for the community.

Dababy will not be appearing at DragFest this weekend 😔

— Aquaria 🤌🏼 (@aquariaofficial) August 10, 2021

Klub Kids UK did tweet out a finalized lineup, which still features plenty of extremely talented drag artists. But this blow to their reputation and evidence of their poor management isn’t likely to blow over any time soon.

FINALISED LINE UP DRAG FEST UK

Anybody who has purchased meet and greet for any performers who are now not attending. Please email [email protected] for a full refund.

London event timings and schedule has been emailed. Manchester email will go out tonight. pic.twitter.com/SbIHoxiADi

— Klub Kids UK (@klubkids_uk) August 11, 2021

And to those still attending Drag Fest UK: good luck, and don’t fuck it up.