Page 15 - BiTS_04_APRIL_2021

BiTS: Okay, that's fine. One more question. Where do you expect to be in ten years' time?

ML: Still doing this would be a good thing and I would be hopefully, it's tricky because I don't
know where I'm going to be in a couple of months’ time because of all this really, so yeah, I would
like to still be playing and I would like to still be able to make music that I want to make, if you

know what I mean. I want to be doing what I want to do, rather than doing what I have to do. If
that makes any sense.

BiTS: [Laughing] You wrote a song about that, didn't you?

ML: Yeah, in essence, yeah. It's kind of like a 'can't keep me down' in a way. Yeah, it's a song
[laughing].

BiTS: Matt, I won't take any more of your time. Thank you very much indeed for talking to me.

ML: Yeah, absolutely. Well, thank you for having me. It's a pleasure.

BiTS: Bye then. Bye.

ML: Thank you. Bye.

The 2021 Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival in Colne, Lancashire

has been cancelled due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, organisers
have today confirmed.

This legendary festival was due to take place over bank holiday

weekend, 27th - 29th August 2021 headlined by Band Of Friends, Kyla
Brox, Layla Zoe, Davy Knowles, Mike Farris & more.

Festival organisers, Colne Town Council, have concluded that, at this time, it is "not possible"

to run the event safely.

Naomi Crewe, Colne Town Council's Town Clerk, explains "It is with great regret that, in light

of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we cannot find a way to guarantee the safety of our festival
goers (often upwards of 25,000 people), venues, traders, performers and staff at this time.
Although we love the blues festival here in Colne, we love and respect our residents and
visitors more. It is the safety of everyone involved in the event which is the motivation for our

decision."

All ticket holders will be contacted directly by Friday 2nd April, and given a refund on their

purchases.

Updates will also be posted regularly on the festival website and via the festival social media.

The previous Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival (August 2019) was the 30th Anniversary of
the event, and won the much-coveted UKBlues Award for the Best Blues Based Festival Of The
Year. The event in 2019 was particularly successful, and was enjoyed by thousands of visitors
from across the UK and Europe, as well as being a much-loved event for people of the local

area.