Music festival idea to replace failed Shrewsbury Quarry concert

A music festival featuring Shropshire bands could be organised at Shrewsbury's Quarry to replace this summer's cancelled 80s concert.

The show had been due to feature the likes of Kim Wilde, Marc Almond and Kid Creole and The Coconuts on July 16, but it was called off by the organiser IML Concerts with the company blaming "circumstances beyond our control".

The recreation and leisure committee of Shrewsbury Town Council has been discussing the possibility of a replacement show as well as taking steps to help prevent future events being cancelled.

Councillor Jon Tandy said he would like to see a music festival which focused on bands from the Shrewsbury area take place on the day.

• Who would you turn out to see in the Quarry?Are you a member of a local band that would be interested in taking part? Send us an email at newsroom@shropshirestar.co.uk or call (01952) 241456. And if you are in a band, why not include one of your songs as an mP3 and we'll put it on shropshirestar.com

"We have got this day free and local bands and local people could make use of that area.

"We have got the perfect venue. We could do a brilliant festival of music and it would be a sell-out," he said.

Councillor Tony Durnell said organising a concert could be dependent on whether the council could make use of the sound and stage equipment due to be used for the Status Quo concert on July 15 and would have been used for the 80s gig.

He added: "This is the second year running where the Saturday's night entertainment has been cancelled by this promoter. That has let the town people down."

Councillor Durnell said he would like to see a festival aimed at a younger crowd arranged for next year.

The committee agreed that the bond required by concert organisers should be increased from its current level of £2,000 to £4,000 to afford the council greater financial protection should future cancellations take place.

Councillor Dean Carroll said there may not be enough time to organise a replacement event for this summer.

"If we do something at the last minute, it might not be of the quality we desire," he warned.

The Status Quo concert will still be going ahead, with organisers anticipating a crowd of about 7,500 people for the gig.

The rockers will be supported by 10cc.

Tickets have been priced at £35 for adults with children aged between five and 15 years old able to enter for £15.