Shrewsbury Fields Forever boss plans to expand next event

Festival director Dene Edwards said he was delighted the event, which was held from Friday to Sunday, had managed to attract about 7,000 music and comedy lovers this year – with numbers well up on the attendance of about 4,000 last year.

He added that plans were already being made for the festival in 2013.

Mr Edwards said the event attracted considerable interest from top music bosses over the weekend as they paid visits to see how the festival was going.

"We had some pretty big players in to have a look at the festival because they have heard different things," he said.

"It is looking exciting for next year if we continue to grow at the rate we are growing."

The event, which was held for the first time last year.

"Year one was to see if the concept was possible in Shrewsbury. Year two has started to cement our position as a festival in the calendar," he said.

Mr Edwards said the first acts for 2013 could be announced before Christmas.

"We will probably have a break for the week. Then we will be putting in place for next year a few ideas for acts," he said.

He added this year's move to a three-day format and the booking of big-name comedians had been a success as the event tried to boost its reputation on the festival circuit.

"It has gone brilliantly. We had the weather on our side and some of the sets of the acts were phenomenal," he said.

"Simon and Oscar from Ocean Colour Scene made the crowd go wild and Ms Dynamite tore the roof off the dance tent. We probably have had about 7,000 people."

He said that another highlight of the event was the performance of The Wombats, who broke off from their American tour to fly back to the UK especially for the show.