Ian “H” Watkins, the well-known member of the pop group Steps, found himself in an unexpected predicament when the prestigious Coachella music festival compelled his small Welsh festival to change its name. The event, originally dubbed Cowchella, has now been rebranded as Moo-La-La Festival in light of an official complaint from Coachella Ltd, the entity behind the famed Californian festival. Watkins expressed his astonishment at the situation, describing it as “mindblowing” and suggesting that the complaint is, in fact, a compliment, indicating that their festival posed some level of competition to the “ginormous” Coachella.

Following the complaint, Cowchella's social media accounts were taken down, and its Eventbrite ticketing page was altered. New social media profiles were quickly established for the Moo-La-La Festival, which will feature Watkins alongside actress Claire Sweeney and BBC Radio 2 presenter Owain Wyn Evans as hosts. Watkins reassured fans that all previously purchased tickets would still be valid for the inaugural event, now set for August.

In an interview, Watkins recalled that they initially suspected their social media accounts had been hacked before discovering the email from Coachella. “It’s a little bit mindblowing… what we’re doing is very, very different to what they do,” he stated, emphasising the entirely different scope of the two festivals. While Coachella features global superstars like Beyoncé, Moo-La-La will showcase tribute acts and local performers, with a focus on creating an affordable and family-friendly atmosphere in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan.

Despite the rebranding, Watkins acknowledged the financial strain the name change has imposed on their event. “We’ve spent a lot of money on marketing and flyers, posters, and banners that are all visible around the town. So yes, those will have to go in the bin,” he remarked, displaying a positive attitude despite the setbacks. He noted that there are many festivals that have successfully played on the name of Coachella, such as the Welsh event GlastonBarry, which has not faced similar challenges.

Watkins articulated his vision for Moo-La-La as a community-focused event that provides affordable entertainment for families who may not be able to travel to bigger music festivals in Cardiff or London. He reassured attendees that the festival, despite its new name, would maintain its core spirit, promising “great food, great drink” and an impressive lineup of tribute acts, including performers for Harry Styles and Taylor Swift. Emphasising the potential of Cowbridge as a location, he remarked, “Our town is so beautiful, but there’s so much untapped potential,” indicating a commitment to showcase local culture and events.

This incident is not isolated; Coachella has a history of protecting its trademark aggressively. Notably, it has previously taken legal action against other festivals, such as 'Moechella' in Washington D.C., and 'Afrochella' in Ghana, both cited for their similar naming conventions. The implications of such trademark actions highlight the complexities and challenges smaller events encounter when facing off against established brands. In Watkins’ case, while the change has presented certain obstacles, it has simultaneously turned Cowbridge into a talking point on an international stage, creating a wave of interest in their upcoming festival.

Watkins, who has seen a resurgence in popularity with Steps, remains committed to bringing joy to his hometown through various community events, asserting that Moo-La-La will be more than a music festival—it will be a celebration of local culture that invites all community members to partake in something special.

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Source: Noah Wire Services