Music festival put back to next year
BLUEDOT has postponed its 2020 festival until next summer.
Bjork, Groove Armada and Metronomy were due to headline the event at Jodrell Bank this July.
All three have been confirmed to perform next year instead, when it will return to beneath the Lovell telescope from July 22 to 25, 2021.
Organisers said: “It is with incredibly heavy hearts that we are announcing the postponement of Bluedot to 22-25 July 2021.
“We are happy to confirm that our three Lovell Stage headliners - Bjork, Groove Armada and Metronomy - will join us on these new dates, and we are working to transfer as many of 2020’s artists and speakers to Bluedot 2021 as possible.”
The announcement follows the cancellation of music festivals including Glastonbury and Parklife in June.
The UK lockdown is expected to be extended by a further three weeks today and it is likely that some social distancing measures will remain in place even once the current restrictions are lifted.
Bluedot organisers said they had been working with authorities to assess the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the event and had come to the difficult decision it could not go ahead.
“Although Bluedot may still seem some time away, the virus and its associated effects are unlikely to ease away for some months and it is important that any additional or unnecessary strain on medical services is avoided,” they said.
“This decision has been a necessary but difficult one to make, as it affects not only our wonderful Bluedot family of festival-goers and staff, but also a large number of artists, performers, speakers, suppliers, traders and freelancers, many of whom have been hit hard during this period.
“Within our limited means, we will continue to do everything we can to support them and the wider sector during these difficult times.”
Tickets and extras such as boutique camping will automatically be transferred to next year’s dates.
Refunds will also be available to festival-goers who cannot attend next year.
But
organisers
have urged: “If you are able to keep hold of your ticket, we would ask that you do - as an independent festival your support will enable us to navigate this difficult period.”
Ticket-holders should look out for an email soon with information about their booking