Bryan Adams has cancelled a gig in Mississippi on Thursday, saying he does not agree with a new law allowing religious groups and some businesses to refuse to serve gay couples.

The Religious Freedom Bill means they can make a refusal based on their religious beliefs.

The measure is said to protect those who believe marriage should be between one man and one woman, and that sexual relations should only take place inside such marriages.

The legislation is set to become law on July 1st.

The Summer of 69 singer says he cannot perform in a state where people are being denied their civil rights due to their sexual orientation.

In a statement published on his website, Mr Adams wrote that "Mississippi has passed anti-LGBT ‘Religious Liberty’ bill 1523. I find it incomprehensible that LGBT citizens are being discriminated against in the state of Mississippi. I cannot in good conscience perform in a State where certain people are being denied their civil rights due to their sexual orientation.

"Using my voice I stand in solidarity with all my LGBT friends to repeal this extremely discriminatory bill. Hopefully Mississippi will right itself and I can come back and perform for all of my many fans. I look forward to that day," he added.

Mr Adams' statements comes several days after Bruce Springsteen cancelled a concert in North Carolina over a separate law.

The new law, North Carolina’s Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, states that everyone should use facilities matching their birth gender. Under the law, all public institutions must post signs designating that bathrooms and locker rooms are to be used only based on biological sex.

Springsteen was scheduled to perform in Greensboro on Sunday, but in a statement on his website he said he was cancelling the show because he wanted “to show solidarity for those freedom fighters” protesting against the law.