Carol Decker criticises Quarry sound restrictions
Shropshire rock singer Carol Decker today joined the chorus of criticism over sound levels imposed on live music events held at Shrewsbury Quarry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id5jRlUhkJA Shropshire rock singer Carol Decker today joined the chorus of criticism over sound levels imposed on live music events held at Shrewsbury Quarry. The T'Pau singer urged people to complain to the council if they wanted to get the volume turned up for future concerts. Miss Decker, who grew up in Shropshire before hitting the charts in Britain and America, was speaking after last weekend's Back to the '80s concert. The event, which also featured Go West, Belinda Carlisle, Bananarama, and The Human League, was a sell-out, attracting 10,000 fans. But many have complained to Shropshirestar.com that the sound was too quiet. In an exclusive interview with today's Shropshire Star, Carol Decker said the acts and the promoter were made aware of the sound controls when they arrived at the venue. She called the decision "really annoying" and criticised "unelected busybodies" for spoiling people's fun. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id5jRlUhkJA
Shropshire singer Carol Decker has joined in the debate over Shrewsbury's "too quiet" pop concerts - but said "don't blame us, blame the council".
She was speaking after more than 10,000 people saw her perform at last Saturday's Back to the 80s gig in the Quarry.
But while there was lots of praise for the show, which included Go West, Belinda Carlisle and The Human League, many concert-goers have complained on Shropshirestar.com that the sound levels were too low and it was hard to hear.
Similar complaints were made after Jools Holland's performance the previous night
Carol, who topped the charts in Britain and had big hits in America with her band T'Pau, said it had been wonderful to return to Shrewsbury and see old friends.
But she said the sound restriction imposed on the concert was "really annoying".
"We were made aware of it when we arrived," said the singer, who grew up in Shropshire and co-wrote two hit albums while living above Shrewsbury's Pengwern Boat club.
"But I cannot see the point of granting a licence and then restricting what you can do with it."
A spokeswoman for Shropshire Council said this week that the licence had been 10 decibels louder than previous years and was set at 75 decibels for Friday and Saturday.
But according to sound charts, 75 decibels falls between the level of conversational speech and a busy residential road.
Carol Decker said music had to be loud to have any impact on the audience.
"I'm sorry that people were not happy, but it's nothing to do with us or the promoter, complain to the council."
The singer said that when she lived and studied in Shrewsbury in the 1980s it was "rocking little town" with plenty of venues for bands like hers.
"There were pubs and clubs and lots of live music as well. There was a healthy band scene. We used to play in Shrewsbury and further afield.
"Twenty to twenty-five years ago Shrewsbury was on the map, it was on the circuit for bands to come to.
"We had really good venues."
Earlier this year live music venue The B-side, above the Albert pub in the town centre, was forced to shut after noise complaints.
Carol Decker criticised unelected organisations for limiting other people's enjoyment of events.
""They do make me mad, these people. They're just self-appointed busybodies."
Miss Decker said towns should be "nurturing their musical community, not trying to neuter it", and should be proud of their musicians.