COLEFORD Music Festival has been cancelled for the second year running due to the on-going Covid-19 pandemic.

Organisers announced last Wednesday (April 14) that the Forest’s most popular free live music event will not be going ahead in 2021.

The open-air festival is usually free to attend and is held in an public space in Coleford town centre, which has led the organisers to decide that it would not be possible to comply with Covid-related guidance which will likely be in place for live events in England this summer.

The festival, which is annually held in July, was also cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, with organisers saying it was ‘the only option for the safety and well-being of everyone’.

The organisers say they are committed to bringing the event back in 2022.

A post of the festival’s Facebook page last Wednesday said: “Very sad to have just posted that this years planned event won’t be going ahead as we had hoped.

“With the event being held in a public open space and with entry being free it is just not possible to ensure that we will be able to apply with any Covid related guidance that may or may not be in place for live events of this nature in July.

“We are all committed to continue to work to bring back Coleford Music Festival in 2022 though.

“Thanks for your understanding.”

Locals people were saddened to hear of the cancellation of this year’s event, with one person commenting: “Was only talking about the music festival yesterday. Such a shame as it’s a great event but completely understandable with everything going on. Sure next year will be the best yet!”

Another said: “Such a shame, always been a fantastic event”.

A third added: “Completely understandable! Safety is paramount!!”

The not-for-profit group of organisers is led by Coleford Mayor Nick Penny, who bought the festival back in 2015 after an eight-year lay-off.

The annual festival provides an opportunity for local talent to showcase their music in front of thousands of spectators over the course of the weekend, and supports a host of local businesses, organisations, food stallholders and traders in Coleford as well as in the wider Forest of Dean area.

The 2019 event was held over four stages, with a main stage at the clock tower, a second stage in St John’s Street, a ‘roots’ stage in Newland Street and an acoustic stage, and featured Monmouthshire-based folk-rock band Rusty Shackle and tribute band The Specials LTD as headliners.