A NEW festival is planned for later this month following the postponement of the Bingley Weekender.

This is Bingley will run on August 20 and 21 at the Bradford and Bingley Sports Club to bring live music back to the district, but to also raise vital funds for the club after a difficult year due to the pandemic. 

Bingley Weekender was due to begin today and run across the weekend.

It had already been postponed once due to the pandemic and while organisers hoped it would be able to go ahead this year, they said: “Unfortunately the lack of clear guidance for the events industry coupled with how close our event is in the calendar to the July 19 open day, we feel we have no option but to reschedule the festival.”

They said they had also been waiting for a Government-backed Covid insurance policy and that going ahead this year was "too much of a risk to take" given the lack of such a policy and the unpredictability of new variants.

The first festival, held in 2019, filled the void left by Bingley Music Live, when, after weeks of speculation, Bradford Council announced it would not be running that year.

The Council said at the time that it had taken a “difficult decision” to scrap the event, which was due to be held in Myrtle Park in late August.

The postponement of Bingley Weekender has been a costly blow to the club - in the region of £45,000 - so it's hoped people will rally behind This is Bingley 

Organiser Glen Shaw said: "The club is run by volunteers and without events like this it makes it very difficult to sustain the venue as a community hub.

"We have been flooded out twice in the past few winters and with the covid pandemic closing us down it is making things very very difficult.

"We are also offering camping for people who just want a change of scenery along with the benefit of live music. 

"Children under 12 are free of charge and half price tickets for under 18s as long, as they are accompanied by adults.

"We have been lucky to be supported by some well-known local bands who want to get out there and perform and are doing so for very little cost."

The line-up so far includes: The Slow Readers Club; Rock Bottom Risers; New2; Eevah; Ed Stones & The BD3;  Kath & The Kicks; Ghost Dance (featuring Anne Marie Hurst); Saints Among Us; Disco Machine Gun; Sons of Robin; Alpine Movement; Galores; Donut; The Big Peach; Adam Boyce; Splash Alley; Frank Farkas; Stray Cats and more. 
There will also be live DJ sets.

Details about the festival can be found at www.beescamping.co.uk, where tickets can also be purchased. They are £20 per day for the Friday and Saturday, or £35 for the weekend.

Announcements will also be made via the Bees Camping Facebook page - www.facebook.com/BeesBMLcamping.