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Issue 54 April/May 2012 £4.75
Regrets as festival is cancelled
Desperate search for headline act By Christina Eccles A FIRST time event organiser has launched an appeal to find a headline act for her charity concert – which is now just weeks away. Paula Wood is organising The Full Stop Concert to raise money for an NSPCC centre in Blackpool, opening to help children all over the North West. But after talks with a high profile act broke down, she has been left frantically searching for someone to headline the gig, taking place at the town’s North Pier Theatre on May 20. Paula had hoped one of last year’s X Factor finalists would perform, which she thought would cost £3,000. But when talks progressed, she found it would actually be £5,000 – a sum she simply could not afford. She explained: “The problem I have is even though people think the NSPCC is a huge charity, they don’t realise it’s based around local branches who have to raise their own money. I’m funding this out of my own pocket and could not commit to £5,000. “Since then it’s been an absolute nightmare even trying to get in touch with people. As soon as they see the word ‘charity’, they aren’t interested.
“I’ve never done anything like this before. My mum – who is in her 70s – is president of the local NSPCC branch and I said why don’t I arrange a concert? It’s really frustrating me. I’m disappointed more people with some kind of level of exposure don’t want to get involved.” Paula has been appealing on Twitter and has used the site to secure performers, including comedian Patrick Monahan. But not being able to announce a headliner is affecting ticket sales – with people holding off until a big act is announced. She added: “We have got some good people already. But we need that one big name people will say I really want to go and see them.” However, despite the problems, Paula is determined the show will go on – with or without a headliner. “I still will absolutely go ahead with it. I have put too much work in and it means an awful lot to the people involved. I’m a 39 year old housewife just trying to do her bit – but it’s proving incredibly difficult.” I If you can help Paula, contact The Main Event and we will pass on her details.
A family orientated outdoor festival – organised by legendary promoter Harvey Goldsmith – is to form part of the celebrations surrounding the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this summer. Myleene Klass, pictured, and Jon Culshaw will host Hyde Park's Jubilee Family Festival, presented by Sainsbury’s, on June 2 and 3, with capacity for up to 50,000 ticket holders per day. The event – inspired by the British tradition of village fetes and street parties – will be themed around 60 years of great British heritage, including influences from across the Commonwealth. Picture: Featureflash / Shutterstock.com
THIS year’s Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth has been cancelled “with very heavy hearts and much regret”, organisers have revealed. In a statement, the team behind the festival said putting together the event, due to be headlined by Kiss, Faith No More and Queen, was harder than they expected – leaving them with no choice but to cancel. The statement added: “Putting the festival together in what is proving to be a very challenging year was more difficult than we anticipated and we have spent the last few months fighting hard to keep Sonisphere in the calendar. “Unfortunately circumstances have dictated that we would be unable to run the festival to a standard that both the artists and that Sonisphere’s audience would rightly expect. “We want to express our deepest regrets to the artists and to thank all the staff, suppliers and contractors who worked so hard with us to try and pull off what has proven to be an impossible task and we know how much they share in our disappointment.” It also thanked the festival’s fans and said all ticket holders could get a full refund from their ticket agents.