Thousands rock at Shrewsbury Fields Forever festival

Monday 19th September 2011, 11:29AM BST.

Headline act The Charlatans

Thousands of music fans rocked out to a host of performances at the first ever Shrewsbury Fields Forever festival, as organisers hailed the two-day extravaganza as “amazing”.

The Charlatans, Radio One DJ Zane Lowe and a member of Pendulum were among acts keeping crowds entertained at County Showground in Berwick Road.

Click on the image to the right to start the gallery

Organiser Dene Edwards today said about 4,000 people attended the event, which he said went well despite not being a sell-out.

He said: “It was amazing and just something to see a few thousand people congregating in the middle of Shrewsbury. When you sit back and look around, it was a great feeling and a real buzz. The feedback from the public has been really positive. Having it at this time of year offers a different dynamic and people came prepared for the weather.

“It is great to get the big names in Shrewsbury. There was the community element as well with the local charities, such as Woodford Foundation doing a silent disco. It helps the charities to reach a different age group.”

On Saturday, Utah Saints and Lisa Pin Up got the main dance tent bouncing in the afternoon and early evening, while Sunshine Underground, who hail from Shrewsbury and Telford, were given a strong reception for their main stage slot. Lead singer Craig Wellington told the crowd he was delighted to be back playing in his home town.

“It is a privilege and an honour – it should be the first of many festivals here,” he said.

The night was rounded off by a crowd-pleasing performance from headliners The Charlatans, who raced through their back catalogue in a 90-minute set including songs such as The Only One I Know and North Country Boy.

On Sunday, the likes of Friends Electric and Fenech Soler had main stage slots, while the main dance tent played host to performances from DJ Woody, Krafty Kuts and Kissy Sell Out.

Headliner Zane Lowe’s show closed the festival from inside the dance tent. He had originally been scheduled to play on the main stage, but with the majority of the crowd in the tent throughout the day and temperatures dropping, it was moved inside.

By Chris Burn

View more: Shrewsbury news, Shrewsbury Fields news, Shrewsbury Fields Forever Festival news.

1
Treacle

September 19, 2011 at 13:12

The Charlatans rock!!!! After 21 years they still sound fantastic, I can’t wait for their next album to come out. The crowd had a mixed age group from the 18 years to the 40 years olds who have no doubt been true followers from day one and everyone was singing along and dancing, superb!! What a cracking bunch of chaps.

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2
A Parent

September 19, 2011 at 15:05

Im all for bringing people and money into our town for a music event, but did it really need to be so loud.
My 9 year old was kept awake on both nights until past 11.30pm and on a school night aswell! This morning he was so tired when I awoke him and I imagine he is going to be so tired at school today that he will not learn anything he is taught.
There are many events at the showground and they have never been as loud (or on for 2days consecutivley) as this before. I do not even live that close and shouldnt of had to endure the constant boom boom that we had the whole of this weekend. I was told by a friend they could hear it in Bayston Hill too.
This is not acceptable and I urge the council to reconsidor any applications for a simlar event in the town centre in the future, or at least enforce a sound limit.

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- Mike Oxlong
  
  September 21, 2011 at 06:52
  
  Oh lighten up Grandad !
  Your 9 year old was probably wishing he was down there moshing with his pals rather than being in bed at (no doubt) 7.30 pm.
  You should also complain to the council about the river being too wet.
  
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  - mark carolan
    
    September 22, 2011 at 09:06
    
    Mike i agree we need things in the town for all ages a bit of noise now and again is fine it’s is not going to kill anyone i could hear it in coton hill and i had no problem with it the show ground should be used more as we don’t really have much in the town for younger people we had reg and the quo but charlatans would be more my taste and i hope the organiser made a few pounds and maybe the council should give him a award for taking the town forward where as some would like to drag it back’
    
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3
daz

September 19, 2011 at 19:29

Too loud…. Honestly what do you expect from an open air music festival maybe a bumper edition of the archers or a choir perhaps………….get a grip people

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4
TommyH

September 19, 2011 at 22:02

Well move away from the center of town! People like you really wind me up. All the money and happy faces brought into shrewsbury should be stopped because a few grumy buggers want to live close to town yet want rural silene all year round. stiff upper lip sunshine.

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- resident
  
  September 20, 2011 at 14:11
  
  and I don’t suppose for one minute you’re trying to impose your views on everyone else?! Bet you’d be the first to complain if it was classical music on for two days non stop playing into the early hours!
  Like many others I don’t live in the town centre and STILL I heard it. I enloy all kinds of music, but I don’t want to listen to it when I’m trying to sleep. Some of us work long hard hours and our sleep is well earned!!!
  
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  - tom
    
    September 29, 2011 at 16:37
    
    it finished at 11 30 both days i was there not really early hours is it :s
    
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5
Happy fella

September 19, 2011 at 22:13

So all the money and happy faces should stopped to appease they few that want to live close to a town centre but still have absolute silence all year round regardless. How is it unacceptable to have a few days of moderate noise, perhaps a move to the county would suit your needs?

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6
FestivalFan

September 20, 2011 at 13:12

I’m pleased to hear there is talk of running this festival next year. It certainly has a lot of potential, and it was a shame that it was rather poorly attended at times this year (quite a few traders even packed up and left on Saturday). Kissy Sell Out, Pendulum, Sunshine Underground and The Charlatans were all excellent. Sound and lighting was good too.

I think a few lessons can be learnt for next year though:
a) Much better advertising needed – it was surprising how few people in town knew the festival was taking place.
b) Keep people informed if timings change – we missed out on acts on Sunday as main stage timings didn’t follow the programme well.

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7
Simon

September 22, 2011 at 05:43

i think one of the reasons it didn’t sell out is cos there were too many dance acts on.
4 dance tents is ridiculous for a small festival like this! Not everyone likes Dance, especially older people.

i would like to have gone but there were only 2 bands on that i liked (The Charlatans, Sunshine Underground being the only 2 rock acts advertised on the website/poster).

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- merc
  
  September 23, 2011 at 13:05
  
  It’s an unfortunate fact that to put a rock band on the road needs trucks, equipment and people. To put a dance act on needs one person and a car. Which is a shame because most dance music is a waste of electricity. I’d rather see a band try and fail than some smug ‘genius’ hiding behind someone elses ideas.
  
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8
arthur

September 24, 2011 at 12:01

Can’t sleep because of the distant noise of a rock concert?

Try earplugs!

People need to remember Shrewsbury is a living, breathing Town, not the quaint set of a period drama.

I’m sure there was no noise passed midnight at the latest and it was at a weekend.

I’d not complain about classical music, jazz, folk or any other genre holding a concert for a night or two in the summer.

I’m fed up with people who want to keep Shrewsbury as some kind of museum piece in which nothing moves after dark except the Severn!

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9
Another parent

September 26, 2011 at 16:13

I’m another parent who’s child was kept awake by the festival… thats because we were there! I think it was great to have an event that both my children and i can enjoy – and we wasnt the only families there. Such a broad range of people and ages attended, it was just nice to spend a day and night out with the kids that has equal appeal.

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10
Munchkin99

September 28, 2011 at 11:00

I agree that this festival is in need of more advertising, I had no idea it was on, which is a real shame as I would loved to have gone.
Please organise one for next year

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