Black Star Riders have revealed that they are pulling out of this year's Stonedead Festival, taking place this Saturday, August 28, at Newark Showground in England.

In a statement shared on his Facebook page, frontman Ricky Warwick stated that he was "gutted," but noted that "the health and safety of loved ones is priority!"

"I’m absolutely heart broken that Black Star Riders have had to withdraw from Stonedead this coming weekend," Ricky continued. "I honestly believed that we would be in a better place by now and we have been monitoring the situation very closely over past weeks to do everything possible to make the trip, Flights, Hotels, Rehearsals, Crew, Transport – everything was booked ready to go, but the risk of testing positive (even though we were all vaccinated) and therefore being isolated a long way from home and family with us having to withdraw from the festival anyway was all too prevalent.

"I am also very sorry to say a member of Black Star Riders went down with full blown Covid yesterday, which of course reinforced wholly the decision we had made. I would like to thank everyone involved with the Stonedead Festival for their support and understanding."

As a result, the Black Star Riders' festival warm-up show on August 27th at Queen's Hall in Nuneaton is also cancelled. Ticket refunds are available from point of purchase.

Black Star Riders includes members of the most recent Thin Lizzy line-up – including Warwick and Scott Gorham. Although Warwick is currently based in Los Angeles, he originally hails from Northern Ireland, and has also spent time living in Dublin.

Uriah Heep have been announced as Black Star Riders' replacement at Stonedead 2021.

"After our hugely successful and emotional headline spot at the Steelhouse festival in Wales, where we had an exclusive agreement to not play any other UK festival this year, the promoters Mikey and Max have kindly decided to rescind that clause and allow us to headline the Stonedead festival on Saturday the 28th of August," Uriah Heep's Mick Box revealed in a statement. "This is so amazing and the mighty ‘Heep’ are honoured to be asked to perform there. We are truly sorry that Black Star Riders cannot perform this year but we are all very buzzed about taking their place. We cannot wait and see you all on Saturday!"

For more information about Stonedead Festival, see stonedeadfestival.co.uk