Coronavirus restrictions push Waterlooville Music Festival back another year to 2022

The festival, originally planned for June of this year, is now set to take place in 2022.

John Johnson is a member of the Waterlooville Music Festival committee, and helps with the website and ticketing at the events.

He has been involved with the festival since it started in 2006.

John said: ‘The festival has been continuous every year since 2006, but this year sadly we won’t be able to proceed.

‘It’s extremely disappointing that we can’t go ahead this year - it just doesn’t make financial sense and it will be difficult to organise with social distancing.’

As well as issues with coronavirus restrictions, John says that many performers feel that they have been unable to adequately prepare and rehearse due to the pandemic.

John added: ‘We’re resigned to it - it’s one of those things and there’s not much we can do about it.

‘We will focus on putting on a really good festival next year, and we’re looking forward to it.’

The new dates are June 11 to 19, 2022.

All the choirs, bands, and other performers due to take part this year have confirmed their availability for 2022, and the existing festival programme in its entirety will take place next year.

Tickets purchased in 2020 will be valid for the same festival day and performance in 2022 that was planned when the tickets were originally purchased.

The festival, which usually takes place annually in June at St George’s Church, features all genres of music from popular to the classics.

It is a community, non-profit making event staged by volunteers.

See www.waterloovillemusicfestival.org.uk.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Thank you for reading this story.

You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news and information online.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism.