Hard Rock Calling will not return in 2014

After six years the name Hard Rock Calling which this year moved to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will not be returning next year.

The Hard Rock brand who have hosted the London open air music event which has seen Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Neil Young and Aerosmith appear over the years have issued a statmement saying,

"Hard Rock International today announced that it will not stage its iconic open-air festival Hard Rock Calling in London in 2014.

"The brand has been privileged and honoured to host this world-class event in London - both at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Hyde Park for the last eight years.

"Hard Rock International looks forward to hosting new world-class music events, both in London and around the globe, and anticipates announcing major European music programmes shortly."

Promoter Live Nation has revealed it intends to start a new 'Calling' event at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park where they also moved the Wireless Festival this year after Hyde Park became the venue for a new rival event, the British Summer Time concert series.

The promoter told Music Week, (here), that it is looking for new sponsorship partnerships saying "Following record ticket-demand and audience numbers at festivals this year, Live Nation is exploring new sponsorship partnerships for its highly successful ‘Calling’ franchise. 

"After six years of rising ticket sales for ‘Hard Rock Calling’, Live Nation intends to build on this popular rock-festival event. Further details about venues and timings for 2014 events will be made in due course.”

Hard Rock took over sponsorship of the festival from 2008 with the event starting in 2006 under the name Hyde Park Calling.