Problems securing headline act forces Shewsbury festival date to be moved
Shrewsbury's annual outdoor summer concert has been moved back until the end of August due to problems with booking a suitable big-name act, organisers said today.
Massive summer shows have become a regular feature in the Quarry in recent years, with Jessie J appearing in front of 11,000 people last July and Status Quo attracting 7,000 spectators in 2011.
But this year's gig in the Quarry has now been pencilled in for the weekend of August 30 and 31, with no act yet confirmed.
Concert promoter Keith Louch, from KAL Music, said he had been frustrated in attempts to book anyone up to now.
But he said a deal with an act has almost been completed and could be announced as early as the middle of next week. The issue was discussed at Shrewsbury Town Council's recreation and leisure committee meeting earlier this week.
Town clerk Helen Ball said: "The summer concert has been moved to the end of August.
"The promoter has had a real problem in sourcing acts. His view is he wants a large act in the same way he had Jessie J and Status Quo. Marketing a big act puts feet in the park far quicker than something like an 80s concert."
She said the town council had not yet been informed of who is going to play at this year's concert.
"As soon as we know, we will circulate the details," she told councillors.
Mr Louch said the act he is looking to book should appeal to a similar audience to the people who attended last year's Jessie J concert.
"We are looking to fill that same market, with something that is very current," he said.
He said he hoped the act would be able to sell between 6,000 and 10,000 tickets.
Mr Louch said it had been hard to find a suitable act this year for a number of reasons – including the growing popularity of European music festivals meaning acts were being booked up quickly.
