The Derbyshire-based Indietracks festival has announced that it will not return, after cancelling its last two editions because of COVID-19. Organisers say that the event has become “unsustainable, principally due to the ongoing ramifications of the pandemic”.

“We’re very sad to say that we’re bringing the Indietracks festival to a close”, they confirm. “We’ve had over a decade of wonderful memories, and so it’s heartbreaking to let you know that 2019’s festival was our final event”.

Launched in 2007 by steam train restorer Stuart Mackay, Indietracks took place at the Midland heritage railway. Acts who headlined the event over the years included St Etienne, Gruff Rhys, The Go! Team, The Wedding Present, Sea Power, Los Campesinos and Camera Obscura.

Like most British festivals, its 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was then announced in February this year that the 2021 edition, set to take place in July, would also not go ahead. At the time, organisers explained that it wasn’t clear when the Midland Railway would re-open given the then ongoing COVID restrictions. With the risk of cancellation further down the line pretty high if they did forge ahead, it was decided to take another year off.

Now it has been decided that it will not be possible to bring the event back at all post-COVID, with a new statement saying: “We realise that the festival was very special to many people, and this isn’t a decision that we’ve taken lightly. Thanks so much to everyone who has attended and supported Indietracks. The festival has successfully raised funds for the Midland Railway Trust each year. However, despite significant effort from all concerned the event has sadly proved unsustainable, principally due to the ongoing ramifications of the pandemic”.

“We were so excited about our line-up for 2020 and were devastated to have to cancel, and we’re especially sorry to all those artists we’d booked and who didn’t get the opportunity to play when the pandemic hit”, they go on. “We’re so grateful to all the artists and bands, workshop organisers, volunteers, merch tent holders and press people who played a part in Indietracks and – most importantly – to all of you who bought tickets, downloaded compilations and came along and enjoyed our events”.

Finally, they conclude: “There are so many fantastic artists, festivals, promoters and record labels out there. And we’d encourage you all to get involved, be supportive and create something new! Put on a gig, arrange a festival, form a band, start a label, share something with the world that needs sharing. We’ll support you however we can, even if it’s just sharing something on social media or offering advice (bearing in mind we made as many mistakes as we got things right!) Just drop us a message and we’ll try and help. Otherwise, it’s over to you now – go for it!”