A brand new festival is set to bring music lovers to the Forest of Dean this summer.

Organised by local Foresters Josh Baynham, Freya Eklof, Jonathan Powell, Steve Brown and Tom Gibbons, Broadstone Festival will feature some of the best up and coming bands from across the country.

“Myself and Steve have been part of the local music community for nearly 15 years, putting on many gigs and fundraisers for Coleford Music Festival in the past,” said Tom.

“We wanted to reach out and push ourselves with this new venture! So, once a site was established, a small team of friends pulled together with the ambition to create something that the Forest of Dean has never seen before.

“Broadstone Park is such a perfect setting for a festival, so we just had to make it happen.”

The festival runs on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th June, with Liverpool-based band The Mysterines set to headline the Friday and Cardiff band Himalayas announced for the Saturday top spot.

But before the main event gets underway, organisers will be holding a special showcase evening in Gloucester.

Steve explained: “The idea behind the showcase is to bring together some of our favourite bands playing at Broadstone, who are geographically well placed to come and demonstrate what they’re all about.

“We’ve watched all of the bands play over the past six months and they’re all absolutely outstanding. We’re also hoping that anyone who attends, who is yet to buy a ticket for this summer’s festival will fall in love as much as we have with the bands playing and purchase a ticket!”

Four of the bands set to take to the stage in June – Mirages, Pompadour, Sapphire Blues and WYNT – will be playing at the free-to-enter event at The Black Cat at Dick Whittington’s in Gloucester.

“WYNT are from Rhondda, South Wales,” continued Steve. “We caught these guys in January whilst playing a ‘big in 2020’, and of the five bands we watched on the night, WYNT were the stand out act.

“Pompadour are Bristol based, we’ve caught these guys on the circuit at various venues in Gloucestershire and Bristol and are always taken aback by their professional, well rounded and catchy rock-pop songs.

“We originally caught Sapphire Blues at the Frog and Fiddle in Cheltenham, having never heard of them previously a cult following filled the room, and as we looked around, we realised everyone else knew the words – from that point on we were transfixed by them.

“Mirages are local lads hailing from various parts of the Forest of Dean. Having recently gone quiet whilst writing new music and incorporating another guitarist into the band, they’re back and better than ever with their blend of rock, grunge and a touch of occasional funk.”

The Broadstone Festival Showcase is on Saturday 4th April.

For more information on Broadstone Festival visit www.broadstonefestival.co.uk