The decision to cancel one of the county’s most popular festivals was far from easy, according to organisers.

It was announced last week that the next instalment of Solfest would be its last, with everyone involved in the festival hoping to go out with a bang.

Crippling debts and a poor turnout at last year’s event have been cited as the reasons behind the decision, as committee members voted on the way forward for the festival.

It was agreed that one more streamlined event would take place next year as a thank you to all those who have supported the festival in its 15 year existence.

Subsequent fundraising events will also be held to help pay back artists who are still owed from previous events and to help clear their debts.

Nathan Sutherland, 37, has been involved with the festival for the past eight years - two of those on the committee.

He said: “It has been a really difficult decision.

“Everybody involved has been for a long time, some since the start. So it was a similar sort of decision to take for us all.

“We didn’t feel there was another option to go to.”

Nathan continued: “Everybody voted on it and it was unanimous.

“It really came about because we were thinking about folding the festival and the debts would be wiped. But if we did that, the people who have worked at the festival wouldn’t get paid.

“But we weren’t comfortable with that, so we are going to acquire some grants, do some fundraisers and then hold one last festival to pay them back.”

What will the 2019 event be like?

“It is going to be smaller than previous years and the tickets will be cheaper as well,” he explained.

“We are going back to the grassroots of the festival. We are thinking about how we spend our money. It will be made up of local acts who have been loyal to the festival.

“It will not be small, but we are losing a couple of stages.”

For Nathan, it is hard to take.

“It is sad, because we put so much effort into it,” he admitted. “I deal with marketing all year round, which is a lot sometimes, but it is worth it when you get to the festival.”

Tickets for the 2019 festival - to take place between August 23 and August 26 - will be discounted, with family plan tickets also available.