THE "devastating" impact of the cancellation of a popular festival has been revealed ahead of its comeback later this year. 

Cancelling the 2020 Southside Fringe saw organisers offer refunds to 45 events and 26 venues, while 200 creatives involved in the festival lost income, its managing director Corinna Currie said.

She added: "Our cancellation of 2020’s festival had a profoundly damaging effect on our registration process, which was in full swing, and saw us offering refunds to the 45 events and 26 venues that had signed up with us prior to lockdown.

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"Our festival averages are 150 events and 40 venues and many applications in process were withdrawn. Work had begun on our large outdoor community launch, which in 2019 attracted over 4000 Southsiders to celebrate with us at the Civic Square at Langside Halls.

"It was devastating to the team to not be able to deliver our festival. The cancellation led to not only our festival being financially impacted, but to some 200+ creatives losing income. This pandemic has impacted so many industries, but especially the arts community."

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This year, more than 50 acts will perform at an online version of the festival, to launch on Friday, March 26. 

Headliners will include Viv Gee, Becci Wallace and Cloud of Starlings. 

Ms Currie said: "We’ve received incredibly heart-warming feedback from the acts, thanking the festival and venue for giving them hope and keeping the arts alive through such uncertain times. We can’t wait to announce more of our incredible acts over the next few weeks. We’ll see you all - virtually - next month.”