Catfish step back as headliners for Dereham Blues Festival

Catfish were due to open Dereham Blues Festival on Wednesday, July 10 but have asked to be released following news that Matt Long's aggressive bowel cancer has spread.

More than £83,000 has been crowdfunded to support 29-year-old Mr Long, from Guilford, who plays alongside his dad Paul in the band.

This has allowed his family to fund a treatment not available on the NHS to help improve the chances of chemotherapy being effective.

A band statement explains: "The music community and our friends have come together and have raised a large amount of money on a crowdfunder so that we can give him access to whatever treatment is available, which may help him either live a little longer or maybe with a miracle save his life."

Matt Long of Catfish is battling bowel cancer (Image: Haydn Hart)

A Dereham Blues Festival spokesman said they are all sending Mr Long and his family their well wishes.

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Tim Cara from Friends of Dereham Memorial Hall, which hosts the concert, said: "We are very fortunate to have been able to book the fabulous James Oliver Band to open the Blues Festival on a rare free night for them.

"James is a powerhouse guitarist with a burgeoning reputation, and the band's line-up features the veteran Norman Watts-Roy on bass. Norman was an integral part of the Ian Dury and the Blockheads and Wilko Johnson bands in the 1980s, at the peak of their fame."

The sold-out opening concert will still be headlined by the Young Blues Musician of the Year, Toby Lee.

The 2024 festival will be the 10th of its kind and will run from July 10 to 14.

The 2022 event is estimated to have brought in £1m to the local economy.