Please read this. It’s important. Really important.
This is a hard post to write, and an even harder one to share. But after 10½ years of running one of the most vital, grassroots festival access communities in the UK, Rhi — the heart, soul, and backbone of it all — is stepping away.
And frankly? We’re gutted.
Here at The Riff Report, we’ve seen the blood, sweat, and (many) tears that go into keeping online communities safe, informed, and supportive — especially for disabled festivalgoers navigating muddy fields, 3am wake-up calls for access bookings, and everything in between.
What Rhi’s done? It’s been nothing short of heroic. 🦸♀️
💬 In Her Own Words…
Here’s Rhi’s message to the community, which we’re publishing in full because it deserves to be heard — not whispered, not twisted, not dismissed. Read it. Feel it. Respect it.
“I have been running this group for 10½ years. I’ve worked with at least 6 different Access Managers and Access Teams, 3 different companies running the festival, and weathered many, many changes — good and bad. I’ve volunteered on site as part of the Access Team since 2023, but now, unfortunately, it’s coming to an end.”
“Throughout that entire decade, the only remuneration I’ve ever received was a festival ticket in 2023, 2024, and 2025 — just like every other unpaid volunteer on site. I’ve never been paid a single penny to run this group. I’ve done it because I care.”
“I’m severely disabled myself. And still, I put in hundreds of hours, year after year, because I wanted to help others enjoy the festivals I love.”
“But now, I can’t do it anymore.”
😡 Why Rhi’s Stepping Down
To put it bluntly: a handful of cruel, persistent, and deeply toxic individuals have launched a vile campaign of harassment against her. This isn’t festival drama or internet bickering — this is sustained, targeted abuse.
Here’s just some of what she’s endured:
Vicious complaints made to festival teams with libellous accusations People attempting to get her banned from every event she’s volunteered at Screenshots and private info leaked across WhatsApp, Reddit, Facebook Personal legal threats because she removed members for breaking rules Memes, messages, intimidation — even in unrelated groups Deliberate attempts to sabotage her mental health and physical wellbeing
Let that sink in for a moment. Rhi, who’s done all of this unpaid, out of love, while managing her own disabilities, is now too afraid to attend the very festival she helped make accessible.
That’s not just heartbreaking. It’s infuriating.
❤️ The Truth About Rhi
Let’s make this clear — crystal tidy clear:
Rhi’s work has transformed the festival experience for hundreds, if not thousands, of access customers. She’s advocated tirelessly for disabled attendees, often pushing for changes no one else would fight for. She’s been transparent, open, kind, and available — year after year, inbox after inbox, post after post.
And not once has she done this for money. She’s done it for community. For connection. For love of the scene.
🛑 Enough Is Enough
This is where The Riff Report draws the line.
To those harassing, bullying, and defaming someone like Rhi — what the hell are you doing?
You’re not fighting for a cause. You’re not making festivals better. You’re not holding anyone accountable.
You’re just hurting someone who has done more for this scene than you probably ever will.
If you’ve got feedback, there’s a way to give it respectfully. If you’ve got a disagreement, there’s a way to discuss it without turning into a mob. If you’re jealous? That’s your problem — not hers.
🫂 To the Community: We Stand With Rhi
To the countless fans, access users, and festivalgoers who have appreciated her — now’s the time to show it. Say thank you. Say you care. Say something.
She deserves that and more.
We don’t know if the group she founded will continue. That’s for her and the mods to decide. But one thing’s for certain:
Her impact will never be forgotten.
Rhi, diolch o galon. You’ve done a proper job, butt. You deserve peace, rest, and every bit of the love you’ve given to this scene. 💜
❤️ Final Words
If you’ve ever been helped by Rhi, please — leave her a message of support. Let her know she’s appreciated. Let her know this fight wasn’t in vain.
Because in a world where online abuse is rampant and volunteer heroes are treated like punching bags…
Rhi deserves a bloody standing ovation.
🎸 From all of us here at The Riff Report:
Rhi, you are an absolute legend.
And if anyone messes with you again, we’ll be first in the mosh pit… swinging. 💪💥
Take care, and rock on.
💀🤘 With Love – The Riff Report
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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