Four major acts have pulled out of a musical extravaganza taking place in Shropshire this month over a financial dispute with promoters, it emerged today.

Uriah Heep, Asia, Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash and Focus say they have pulled out of the three-day Memories of Woodstock event at the West Mid Showground in Shrewsbury, which is due to start next Friday .

The event was expected to draw crowds of up to 15,000 people each day, and promoters today said the show would go on despite the setback.

Concert promoter Brian Davies, of New Dawn Events, claimed he had “dumped” the acts because they were demanding appearance fees before enough tickets had been sold to cover the payments, running into tens of thousands of pounds.

He said: “It’s still going ahead and nothing has changed apart from a few acts on the line-up.

“We put deposits down on a contract with Wishbone Ash, Focus, Uriah Heep and Asia then started advertising them on the line-up.

“The trouble with some artists is that they are charging as much as £30,000 to play and sometimes they want their money paid in stages beforehand but we couldn’t pay the balance until closer to the concert,” he added.

“I have lost about £20,000 in deposits through this.”

Statements on Uriah Heep and Asia’s websites confirm that the bands have pulled out.

A host of top acts like the National Symphony Orchestra, John Lee’s Barclay James Harvest, Jethro Tull, Fairport Convention, Nazareth and Abba Gold are still due to play.

The event has been organised to mark 40 years since Woodstock in America.

Ian Anderson, the flute and voice of rock band Jethro Tull, has said the Shrewsbury festival will come a close second to playing at the real Woodstock after his band turned down the chance to play at the original Woodstock.

For full details, refunds or tickets – priced £36 per day or £100 for all three days – call 0845 0508252.

By Tom Johannsen