Shrewsbury's Quarry summer concert cancelled
A summer outdoor concert that was expected to attract more than 10,000 people has been cancelled because organisers cannot find a headline act, it was revealed today.
Organisers of the show in Shrewsbury's Quarry say they have been unable to secure a big-name act.
But a rival concert in Telford will continue in September, featuring boyband McFly and attracting up to 6,000 fans.
Massive summer shows have become a regular feature in Shrewsbury in recent years, with Jessie J appearing in front of 11,000 people last July and Status Quo attracting 7,000 spectators in 2011.
The date of this year's planned concert in Shrewsbury had been moved back to the end of August in an attempt to get more time to find someone to perform, but without success. Concert promoter Keith Louch, from KAL Music, said today he had admitted defeat – but denied any link between the cancellation and the event in Telford.
He said the main problem in finding a performer was the growing number of European festivals able to offer higher fees.
He added: "We have reached a point where we will give it a miss this year. It is very frustrating but we can't find the acts that want to play. It is ironic when we have the best summer ever and have no shows.
"There are too many European festivals which all the artists want to play at."
In 2011, an 80s concert due to take place in Shrewsbury the day after the Status Quo gig was cancelled because of ticket sales. Kim Wilde and Marc Almond were the headline names on the bill.
Telford & Wrekin Council has organised the T Live event in the town's park on September 7. McFly will be supported by Stooshe, Loveable Rogues and The Vamps.
