Outdoor music festival planned for Doncaster town centre later this year

Under plans currently being developed, there could be a reggae and soul music festival in Doncaster market place, with bands and singers.

The scheme is being drawn up by the Doncaster African Caribbean Support Group, with the Cast theatre also involved in the planning of the event.

The idea is to create a family day which would be centered around the music stage. Headliners have already been lined up.

Tim Brown who is coordinating the scheme, said it was originally hoped that the festival could be held late in June.

But it was decided that it would be better to wait for things to have settled down more after Covid restrictions end.

It is thought that would mean there would not be as much pressure on town centre services on what might be the first weekend of the town centre being ‘back to normal’ under the Government’s roadmap for the easing of lockdown.

Now it is looking as though it would be held on September 4.

"We are happy with that,” said Mr Brown. “We’re just positive that there’s going to be a reggae festival in the market square.

"We’re looking at it being a family event from 12noon until 8pm, and then we want to carry it on with reggae at the Rum Rooms courtyard, and soul music in the wool market.

"It has been pushed back to September, but safety is paramount. We are hoping that we will be out of the semi-lockdown by then.”

He is also looking to have food stalls in the area, with an Afro-Caribbean theme to the whole event.

He said the plan was to have the event headlined by the Doncaster based reggae performer Parly B, known for tracks such as Motorbike, and the singer Shorrel Jade, also based in Doncaster, on the bill for the soul music.

Mr Brown is hoping that the planned festival will be the first of many similar shows and would like to make it an annual event in the area around the market in the future.

Doncaster Market was previously the venue of the Doncaster Live music festival.

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