Organisers target Olly Murs after new Betley music festival gets green light
A MAJOR three-day music festival featuring some of Britain's top acts is being planned for North Staffordshire this summer.
Talks are underway to try to secure acts including Tom Jones and Olly Murs for the first-ever Junction 16 festival.
Up to 15,000 people will be able to attend each day of the festival on the second weekend of August.
It will take place on 252-acres of farmland in Betley after Newcastle borough councillors approved an entertainment licence yesterday after there were no objections.
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Mother-of-three and landowner Jayne Speed, aged 47, who owns Betley Court Farm with husband Frank, said: "We are excited about getting the go-ahead for the event and can't wait to get started.
"It is in a good location and there are excellent road links.
"This has been in the pipeline since last summer but now the licence is in place it is all coming together."
The site already attracts 10,000 people a year to the annual Betley Show which is set to continue.
The Junction 16 festival will be spread over three themed days – Betley goes retro, Betley goes pop and a tea in the park day for families. Overnight camping will not be allowed.
Organiser George Bailey, aged 51, who runs Betley Mere Concerts, said: "We want to attract international acts.
"We are organising the ticket prices now and will look to have booked all the acts by next month. We have an established venue which is used to holding a large number of people."
Music promoters today welcomed news of the Junction 16 festival.
Chris Wilson, aged 27, of Penkhull, who works at the Sugarmill music venue, in Hanley, said: "Anything that brings artists and music into the area is massively beneficial to the local scene.
"It will be great for people to have the chance to see major artists at a venue that is actually near to home.
"I am hoping that it will really help put Betley and this area on the map."
Music fan and nursery nurse Megan Farrington, aged 20, of North Street, Newcastle, said: "It is a brilliant idea to have a festival because there is nothing like this in North Staffordshire.
"I will be keeping a look out for the tickets when they go on sale and can't wait for the line-up to be announced.
"Tom Jones would be brilliant because he is popular with all ages."
Junction 16 will be held between August 9 and 11. Ticket details are yet to be announced.
Comments
by DoctorDo
Sunday, January 06 2013, 7:40PM
“@Richard370
Cracking play on words, 'aria', I like it.
Always assuming it was intentional and not a spelling mistake.”
by johncorserine
Sunday, January 06 2013, 5:19PM
“Everyone from this county and beyond will be welcome to the mainly music based Leek Arts Festival in May. I'm told that they will have the Halle Orchestra, Fairport Convention, Albert Lee, The Roving Crows and the Peak Distric Jazz Orchestra. All music tastes will be catered for. A local festival organised by Local people for the Community. There will also be exhibitions, drama performances, talks and a whole host of other activities....
All are welcome..”
by Daz_Alsager
Saturday, January 05 2013, 11:12PM
“No Camping *** hows that going to work ???”
by Pinchofsalt
Friday, January 04 2013, 3:25PM
“Seems like its only worth a festival if the artistes are youngster-friendly. I've no problem with Tom Jones, perhaps not my personal cup of tea, but it does seem as though organisers put any devotees of other music at the back of the queue.
Olly who, by the way . . . .?”
by atworkst5
Friday, January 04 2013, 2:12PM
“Hmm, lets not forget that Olly is also supporting was 'once our very own but now lives over the pond' Robbie this year - in Manchester!”
by atworkst5
Friday, January 04 2013, 2:06PM
“yes I agree Warren, another festival in the same month as V, on the same stretch of road, will be fun, all the holidaymakers stuck will have a blast!!. Also, why MORE pop music? there are other genres of music, why not rock? the nearest Download fest is Donnington if you are lucky”
by Richard370
Friday, January 04 2013, 12:27PM
“It's great or the aria , I think it could be pulled off, cloud 9 was a disaster from the word go.
I'm not a Tom jones fan but he been going for a long long time so can't see why he won't pull the crowds, he has a big fan club..”
by Mister_Exe
Friday, January 04 2013, 11:25AM
“They could have come up with a more inspiring name for it... it sounds like a low rent bed shop or something.
And how is this going to succeed - yet another music festival just a few miles away from where Cloud 9 was forced to cancel due to lack of ticket sales? Who has the money to go to all these festivals that are springing up everywhere?”
by warren-lloyd
Friday, January 04 2013, 10:26AM
“Don't undersell Tom Jones Totale, he's been banging shifts in at the big festivals for years. I'd like to see Joe Cocker on the bill, and you have to give to Olly Murs, he's whipping out No. 1 albums for fun.”
by warren-lloyd
Friday, January 04 2013, 10:09AM
“It'll be great, we'd have this and V in the same month.”