Great Dunmow Summer Solstice Music Festival is set to return "bigger and better" next month.

The not-for-profit festival, held on the Recreation Ground on Saturday, June 24, was first established in the summer of 2021.

Featuring mainly local bands, the festival was an opportunity for people to gather after multiple lockdowns and gave the performers a long-awaited gig.

Since then the Summer Solstice has evolved, and is now back and bigger than ever - with proceeds going towards the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity.

Headliners are the UK's premier Queen tribute act Flash. Established in 2001, the group brought together the finest musicians from several Queen tribute shows to form 'the best of the best', performing with replica equipment and costumes.

They were previously praised by the BBC for being 'as close as it gets' to the original band.

Flash's spotlight on the evening stage will be shared by Abba Stars UK, who perform a "captivating show", featuring tight harmonies and authentic costumes.

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During the afternoon attendees can enjoy an eclectic range of music from Anglo-Cuban band Swan Vesta Social Club - hailed "the perfect festival band" by rock photographer Eric Hobson -, to Oklahoma-born Bob Collum and the Welfare Mothers, with their brand of country rock and roll.

The line-up also includes Xstatic - a band born out of lockdown - and Colchester-based seven-piece party band Old Skool Band. 

A variety of food will be available at the festival including wood fired pizzas, burgers, noodles and dumplings, ice creams, cakes and coffee, with Dunmow Young Farmers Club hosting a fairly priced bar.

All money raised will go to the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity, which is dedicated to supporting people whose lives are touched by cancer, with support centres based in Essex and London offering a range of complementary therapies.

The charity is the legacy of late BBC sports journalist Helen Rollason, who died from cancer in Brentwood in 1999.

The gates to the event open at midday, with music starting at 1pm.

Tickets will be available on the gate or can be purchased in advance for a discount via https://www.greatdunmowsummersolstice.co.uk/.