The Rise and Fall of a Fantasy Festival
The Monmouth Rising festival was supposed to be a groundbreaking event, featuring an impressive lineup of bands including The Killers, Pulp, Def Leppard, Wet Leg, and The Libertines. With a capacity of 45,000 attendees over three days, it was marketed as the world’s first hydrogen-powered music festival, set to take place during the August bank holiday. However, what seemed like a promising venture turned out to be nothing more than a carefully constructed illusion.
A thorough investigation by Viral In Media uncovered how James Kenny, a self-proclaimed entrepreneur with a history of fraud, orchestrated a make-believe festival from his mother’s kitchen in Liverpool. Despite his claims of having secured funding from high-profile investors and partnerships with notable figures, it became clear that the entire project was built on lies.
Kenny initially appeared to have the support of industry insiders, who were drawn in by his grand vision for a festival larger than Latitude. He claimed to have connections with prominent figures such as John Vincent, co-founder of the restaurant chain Leon, and even suggested that the Welsh government had conducted an economic impact assessment estimating £28.9 million in local revenue. However, these claims were later debunked, revealing a pattern of deceit.
Employees and suppliers who believed in the festival found themselves disillusioned as time passed. One former employee described the event as “a festival made of paper,” highlighting how everything began to fall apart. Many were left questioning whether the festival was ever real at all. Deposits for bands were never paid, and no official license applications were submitted, raising serious doubts about the feasibility of the event.
Kenny’s promises extended beyond just financial backing. He claimed that Idris Elba would provide a voiceover for the festival’s promotional material and even DJ at the event alongside Groove Armada and Whigfield. However, none of these claims proved true. Elba’s agent confirmed there was no record of any involvement, and both Groove Armada and Whigfield denied being booked for the festival.
Another key figure involved in the project, Genevieve Barker, shared her experience of being lured into the venture with promises of a lucrative career move. She described the relationship as “toxic,” noting how Kenny isolated employees and discouraged open communication. Despite the initial excitement, she soon realized the project was not as legitimate as it seemed.
As the festival date approached, many employees found themselves without payment, and the website was taken down. Suppliers who had invested thousands of pounds in services and materials were left waiting for their money. A series of fabricated documents, including a suspicious invoice from GWR and a loan agreement from Metro Bank, were used to justify the lack of funds. These documents were later revealed to be either forged or non-existent.
Kenny’s previous attempts to organize events, such as a city-wide cocktail festival, followed a similar pattern of failed promises and alleged fraud. He was also linked to a failed investment in Liverpool Cocktail Week, which left a couple from Chester out of pocket by £20,000.
Despite the mounting evidence, Kenny maintained that the festival was real and claimed he had spent a year working on it. He expressed regret for the financial losses incurred by those involved and promised to repay them. However, he refused to provide details about the alleged forgeries or the investors he claimed to have engaged with.
Monmouth Rising ultimately collapsed, leaving numerous suppliers and employees financially strained. The festival’s ambitious plans, including the use of hydrogen power and live broadcasts from Viral In MediaWales, never came to fruition. The site plan, which was supposedly designed using software used for the Paris Olympics, was actually created using a free online app.
James Kenny, who has a history of fraud, is now facing questions about how he managed to pull off such a deception. His company has been linked to multiple unpaid County Court Judgements, and he was previously convicted of fraud for forging his wife’s signature to obtain a mortgage.
While some may question the motivations behind Kenny’s actions, many who were involved in the project believe that Monmouth Rising was never going to happen. As Genevieve Barker put it, “He fooled all of us.”
