Sign up for a party in the park with bands

The best unsigned bands from Shropshire will line up for a party in the park at the inaugural #ShropshireUnsigned event.

The event will play out across two venues, with bands appearing at the Shrewsbury Food Festival on June 29 and 30. An indoor gig will follow, featuring four of the best local bands at the Walker Theatre, in Shrewsbury's Theatre Severn, on the evening of June 30.

The event is being backed by Shropshire's BBC 6Music CJ, Chris Hawkins, who will host the gig at the Walker Theatre.

It will feature local stars Portlights, Fight The Dice, Arcade Parade and Fight The Bear.

There will also be slots in the Quarry Park, at Shrewsbury Food Festival, from top local performers, including Shrewsbury singer/songwriter Andy O'Brien, who also plays with The Clocktower Army.

O'Brien will headline proceedings on both days, playing slots at 3pm on The Armoury's #ShropshireUnsigned stage.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to being part of #ShropshireUnsigned.

"It's a great opportunity to showcase the best of local talent in Shrewsbury's two big venues.

"The gig in the park will be great because everybody loves festivals and outdoor events.

"I'm really looking forward to it. I love music and I love food, so, as far as I'm concerned, it's absolutely perfect."

O'Brien is one of Shropshire's most talented performers.

He recently supported James Arthur at Shrewsbury's Buttermarket and regularly plays venues across the UK with his band, The Clocktower Army.

Arcade Parade, the winners of Shropshire's Next Big Thing 2012, will also line-up to play for fans, with their slot planned for the Walker Theatre.

Lead singer Ollie Scott said: "We had a great gig last year when we played at the Walker Theatre as part of Shropshire's Next Big Thing.

"We're really looking forward to playing the venue this year as part of #ShropshireUnsigned – it's an amazing line-up with some of the best bands in the county. Hopefully plenty of people will get along to see it."

Craig Reeves, spokesman for Shrewsbury's Walker Theatre, said: "Fight The Bear are one of the county's best-established unsigned bands and will release a new album later this year.

"Arcade Parade were the winners of the Shropshire's Next Big Thing competition in 2012 and have released two EPs.

"Fight The Dice have caused a stir on YouTube with a series of video releases while Portlights have just returned from a national tour and have a whopping 30,000 Twitter followers.

"It's an amazing line-up and tickets are only a fiver.

"It's brilliant value for those who want to enjoy the best of local unsigned bands."

Shrewsbury Food Festival chief executive Beth Heath said #ShropshireUnsigned had come about so that visitors to that event could look forward to a programme of free entertainment.

She said: "We want to keep our visitors entertained while they're enjoying the best of local food and craft.

"So we decided to create an event called #ShropshireUnsigned. It's being backed by BBC Radio 6Music DJ Chris Hawkins and could help provide a springboard for local bands who want to hit the big time.

"#ShropshireUnsigned will bring together some of the best unsigned young bands from across our region.

"They'll play for food festival visitors on the The Armoury's #ShropshireUnsigned stage, in the Quarry. Fans can expect an eclectic line-up with singer/songwriters, reggae, rock and roots.

"And once our festival shuts down on Sunday, the party will continue at Theatre Severn, a short walk away from The Quarry, over the Welsh Bridge."

DJ Chris Hawkins said he was looking forward to the event – and looking forward to returning to his home county.

Hawkins regularly returns to Shropshire to see family members or watch his beloved Shrewsbury Town FC.

He said: "I'm looking forward to being part of #ShropshireUnsigned.

"It's great that there's an event which will shine the spotlight on the best of local unsigned talent."

The entertainment in The Quarry is free to food festival visitors – and admission to that is just £5 for adults or £1 for under-16s. Tickets for the gig at Theatre Severn cost £5 and £7 from www.theatresevern.co.uk or by calling 01743 281281.

Further details are also at www.shrewsburyfoodfestival.co.uk.

By Andy Richardson