Curtains for T-Live as Boyzone fill slot

Telford & Wrekin Council will scrap the live music extravaganza which has seen bands and artists such as McFly, Union J and Rick Astley play at Telford Town Park at two events during the last two years.

Putting on the two festivals made a total loss for the cash-strapped authority of £68,748. They were put on as part of its Destination Telford programme, which aims to support a range of activities in the town and attract more visitors to the town from across the West Midlands.

But council chiefs have denied the events were a flop and said the reason for the decision was because the opportunity to host Boyzone this year was too good to miss and hosting two large-scale live music events was "simply not feasible".

Russell Griffin, spokesman for Telford & Wrekin Council - which is promoting the Boyzone gig - said T-Live paved the way for the Irish boyband to perform at Telford Town Park on June 27 as part of its UK tour.

He said: "There won't be a T-Live this year and the Boyzone concert isn't going to be branded as T-Live - this is part of a broader UK tour.

"T-Live paved the way for us attracting a major act of the nature of Boyzone and T-Live proved that the Telford Town Park arena can work as a venue and we are passionate about positioning Telford as a regional destination of choice and the fact that Boyzone have chosen to come to Telford is clear proof of that.

"T-Live is not on this year simply because we have got the opportunity to have Boyzone here and it was too good to miss and we can't brand it as T-Live because it is part of their tour.

"Putting good quality events like this on in Telford takes a considerable commitment in terms of time and effort from the council's perspective. To put on two is simply not feasible.

"But we are absolutely delighted to have such a big act as Boyzone.

"We have had two good years of T-Live and now we have got this opportunity of Boyzone and T-Live paved the way for that."

He added the T-Live events and this year's summer concert could lead to more big names coming to the town in the future.

"Success breeds success and getting Boyzone here is a real coup for Telford and other bands will be seeing that Boyzone have chosen to come to Telford and it will make them sit up and take notice," he said.

"Not only that, Telford was their first announcement for their whole UK tour and that is a real feather in our cap."

It had not been known whether T-Live would reappear after it was revealed last year's two-night festival made a loss of £28,748.

The event in August cost £280,191 to stage and brought in an income of £251,443.

The cost was covered by a dedicated Destination Telford budget.

At the time, the council's Labour leadership said the concerts had helped promote the borough but Councillor Andrew Ease, leader of Telford & Wrekin's Conservative Party said the loss made could not be justified, adding: "I fail to understand the logic of spending a huge amount of money like this while claiming to be strapped for cash".

Boyzone tickets went on sale last Friday and 2,000 were snapped up in 24 hours. They can be purchased from theplacetelford.com, at the theatre or Southwater One or by calling 01952 382382 and through national ticket agencies.