THE Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival due to be held in Colne over the August Bank Holiday weekend is the latest high profile event to fall victim to the coronavirus outbreak.
Organisers Colne Town Council have issued a statement saying: "It is with heaviness in their hearts that Colne Town Council announce the 2020 Great British Rhythm & Blues festival this summer is postponed."
Chairman of Colne Town Council, Mary Thomas said: "With the Covid-19 pandemic evolving daily it has sadly become obvious that, for multiple reasons, it would not be appropriate to operate this year’s blues festival in Colne.
"It is the safety of our traders, performers and of the 25,000+ visitors who would have attended the event which is the motivation for our decision."
Over 130 artists were due to perform at venues around Colne over three days including the Band of Friends, Mike Farris and Kyla Brox.
All ticket holders will be contacted directly and given a refund on their purchases.
The festival organisers are in the process of contacting all the performers, venues and traders and hope they will be able to carry their contracts over until next year. So, they are hoping to be back, stronger than ever, during the August Bank Holiday weekend in 2021
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