Festival is 'a gathering point for survivors'

Sue Brand said testicular cancer survivors and their loved ones meeting and chatting was "what the festival is all about"

A festival described by one organiser as "a gathering point for survivors" of cancer will return this summer.

The Hoosiers and Woody Cook will headline Test Fest, which will take place at Taunton Rugby Football Club on Saturday 21 June to raise awareness of testicular cancer.

The event began in 2017 when Sue Brand, founder of charity It's in the Bag Cancer Support, said the charity found younger men preferred live music to charity matches.

Ms Brand said: "What we want is for people to come to the festival and really enjoy themselves, learn a bit about testicular cancer, the charity and the work we do, and how we support people from Hereford right down to Truro."

Ms Brand said a second stage is being introduced at Test Fest, where ticket holders often don bright orange underpants over their clothes.

"We turn away probably between 100 and 150 artists every year, so we've got a smaller stage this year for some acoustic bands but also some fantastic bands and artists that are up and coming," she said.

Other artists billed to perform at the event include Break Beat Bandits, The Jamestown Brothers, and Whisky Embers.

Ms Brand said the festival was a place for people to meet and have a chat with others who have also lived with testicular cancer.

The festival is staffed by volunteers

"That's what the whole festival is about," she said.

"We started Test Fest because one of the guys who'd had testicular cancer said to me: 'Not everyone likes rugby and football... there's a lot of young guys that love music'.

"It's actually a really family friendly festival because most men who have testicular cancer are in their 30s."

"Come and have a chat with us, listen to the music, have a cider - or two - and have a good time."