Kirklees music festivals look forward to summer 2021

music festivals across Kirklees have announced that the show will go on, even if it means waiting until 2021.

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the majority of upcoming music festivals have had to postpone until next year.

However, the local community, creative sector and authorities have rallied behind the events, in order to ensure that they return when it is safe to do so.

Cleckheaton Folk Festival chairman David Minich said that this year’s cancellation was “disappointing” but plans for 2021’s festival are already in motion.

All of the acts booked to play this year agreed to play in 2021 within 24 hours of the event being cancelled. Furthermore all of the festival’s funding, including £5,000 from Kirklees Council’s ‘Growing Great Places’ crowdfunder, has been retained.

Festival Chairman David Minich, said: “We’ve been very lucky, we’ve not had any drastic financial losses and our grants are being carried forward to next year.

“It’s just a shame that we won’t see some folks that we only get to see once a year. Although we can’t see eachother this year, our big folk family will come together in 2021.”

The Cleckheaton Folk Festival will return on July 2-4 2021.

The annual Batley Festival has also been postponed until September 2021.

Kimberley Thirkill, chair of the Batley Festival, said: “We would still like to mark the festival day (September 26) in some way, so keep an eye out for more details.

“We can now look forward to the 2021 Batley Festival, in which we hope to be able to bring you another fabulous fun packed day, where the whole community can make amazing memories.”