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Second Swindon festival axed this summer

Cost of living crisis forces MFor Festival to be postponed until next year
Cost of living crisis forces MFor Festival to be postponed until next year

What looked to be a summer of exciting music festivals for the people of Swindon has been left in tatters after a second event has announced it won't be going ahead as planned.

MFor Festival was due to take place in Lydiard Park this year but a combination of the cost of living crisis, the war in Ukraine driving petrol prices up, and confusion over another unrelated cancelled festival have forced organisers to postpone it until next year.

This follows the cancellation of Live at Lydiard after it was refused a license by Wiltshire Council following an attempted venue move from Lydiard Park to Lydiard Millicentwhich was announced earlier this month.

Read: Live at Lydiard music festival in Swindon cancelled

The festival, scheduled for July 29 and 30, 2022, was due to bring Steps, James Arthur, Tinie Tempah and Scott Mills to the town this Summer, but it will now be taking place on July 28 and 29 next year.

MFor, like other UK festivals, was hit by the Covid pandemic but managed to bounce back and put on an event last year that featured Craig David, Sigala and Ella Henderson.

Swindon Advertiser: Craig David at last year's MFor Festival
Swindon Advertiser: Craig David at last year's MFor Festival

Craig David at last year's MFor Festival

But the event, which fundraises to support former military service personnel has been hit by what it calls a series of unforeseen challenges in trying to put on this year's event.

A press release sent out about the postponement said: "The cost-of-living crisis has played a huge role with costs to organisers rising exorbitantly and fewer people having the available income to buy tickets.

"The impact of the war in Ukraine has pushed fuel prices up and put even more pressure on budgets.

"Additionally, the continued marketing of a nearby festival, that had its licence refused months earlier, led to confusion for consumers with many believing Mfor was unable to proceed.  This had a direct impact on the event."

Swindon Advertiser: Festival goers enjoying Lydiard Park at 2021's Mfor Festival
Swindon Advertiser: Festival goers enjoying Lydiard Park at 2021's Mfor Festival

Festival goers enjoying Lydiard Park at 2021's Mfor Festival

Mfor organisers, Graham Stobbs and Debra Collins, said: “We are devastated that we have to postpone the festival.

"We have put our hearts and souls into bringing a brilliant music festival and family fun day to Swindon and are really upset that these circumstances beyond our control mean we can’t go ahead in July."

They added that anyone who has purchased tickets for this year's festival will automatically be transferred over to the new dates but should anyone wish to get in touch with them, all enquires should be directed to info@mforfestival.co.uk.