A Shrewsbury music festival showcasing the cream of young talent which attracts thousands of spectators, has been axed due to a lack of funding.
Teenage Kicks, a free live music event, has been held in the Quarry since 2004, celebrating young bands and artists from across the county.
The day has provided teenagers with the opportunity to gain exposure and has traditionally boasted other attractions such as a graffiti festival and skateboard half pipe.
But the Shropshire Council-run event will not be going ahead this year, after it was revealed allocated funding from the government has been cancelled. The news has come as a bitter blow to bosses at The Hive Music and Media Centre, in Belmont, who regularly recruited young people through volunteering scheme Voltage to help co-ordinate and organise the event.
Volunteer co-ordinator Ellen Green told the Chronicle the festival’s demise was ‘sad news’.
“For us now not being able to offer young people that opportunity and show them in such a positive light co-ordinating the stage, designing the line-up and managing it all on the day is a massive blow to us,” she said.
A spokesperson from the council confirmed the costs have varied between £4,000 and £10,000 over the years.
Shropshire councillor Miles Kenny said the news was a huge shame. “It attracted thousands of people and had a lovely atmosphere,” he said. “It is going to leave quite a void in activities for younger people. It is a huge disappointment,” he said.
Councillor Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council cabinet member for partnership working, said: “The Teenage Kicks festival was originally organised and funded by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council, and Shropshire Council agreed to meet the majority of costs in 2009 and 2010. However, the Government has now cancelled the grant funding that was going to be used for this year’s event, so it will unfortunately not be going ahead this year unless alternative funding can be found.
“The council is committed to providing opportunities for young people in Shropshire, and we are working with voluntary and community organisations to make sure a variety of events will still take place in the future, despite the current financial constraints all councils are under.”
by Charlotte Hester