The Forest of Dean town of Coleford is to host its annual music festival this month, with an eclectic mix of musical genres set to be represented.

The two-day festival, which gets underway on 14th July, offers visitors to Coleford a chance to experience live music, with four stages that host musical acts that play everything from rock and roll to jazz. Festival organiser Amanda Smith is looking forward to another year of top quality music. She said: “The music festival is always one of the best weekends for the town. We’re a community Festival and we try and cater for all tastes in music, which isn’t the easiest task in the world!

“The festival consists of a main stage featuring the best local bands with national headliners to finish. Our roots stage features the best of jazz, blues and country artists. We also have an acoustic stage that is always very popular and the St Johns Street stage featuring new bands from the area. It’s always nice to see so many familiar faces who support the event. We get people who have left the area but always make the effort to return for the music festival, which is testament to the quality of the event.

“We’re very lucky to have a lot of community involvement. Our youth orchestra will be playing, as are the Forest of Dean Wind Band as well as a local African drumming group that are performing as well.

“The Festival prides itself on being extremely friendly, relaxed and an opportunity for families and all generations of people to come together and enjoy themselves. It’s absolutely free of charge, we’re very lucky to be supported by Coleford Town Council and so many businesses in the town, without their financial support the festival simply wouldn’t exist.”

Like most festivals, the work of volunteers is not to be underestimated, and the Coleford Music Festival is no different. Amanda continued: “There’s a whole load of amazing volunteers whose work often goes unnoticed. Without their dedication we wouldn’t have a music festival, it’s as simple as that. They’re a fabulous group of people who do so much for the local area. When the festival is over all the volunteers and organisers always get together and have a few drinks, it’s nice to reflect on all the hard work and look forward to the next festival.

In recent years superstar bands like The Four Tops, The Drifters and Enter Shikari have played the main stage at the festival, and this year Amanda says the line-up will put on a great show. “We’ve got ska, rock, blues, jazz, there’s music genres for everybody to enjoy. There’s also lots of other events that are on, including music workshops and street food and a market. The whole of the town centre is shut down while the festival is on. We put the main stage right in the middle of the town which creates a simply wonderful atmosphere.”