a related article:
Westlife Gig To Help Fund New City Academy - 8 June 2007
EXCLUSIVE: By Pam McClounie
POP superstars Westlife will headline a summer pop concert in Carlisle - with profits going to the new Carlisle academy school.
The boy band - Nicky, Kian, Shane and Mark - will perform outdoor at Westlife: Live In Concert in Bitts Park on Sunday, August 12.
They will be joined by X-Factor winner Shayne Ward, fellow contestant Chico and former Sugababe Mutya Buena.
Carlisle academy sponsors Andrew Tinkler and Kingmoor Park boss Brian Scowcroft have each pledged £500,000 in sponsorship for the city’s £30 million academy school.
The Cumbrian entrepreneurs have joined forces with Carlisle City Council, organisers of “pop2thepark’.
Mr Tinkler, chairman and chief executive of WA Developments International and joint owner of Eddie Stobart, said: “Westlife are a big name and I think they will go down well in Carlisle.
“We’ll fly them into Carlisle and they might even stay the night.
“We’re always trying to raise money for the academy and we see this concert as a commercial venture.
“It’s important to give something back to the city.
“This is an exciting time for Carlisle given the various projects that are in the offing including the new academy, new university, the development of the airport, Kingmoor Park and the Renaissance project.
“We want to organise an event that captures the spirit of Carlisle, one of optimism and confidence in the future where education and career opportunities are available for our youngsters and economic viability is sustained for the future.”
Mike Mitchelson, leader of Carlisle City Council added: “Following the success of previous pop2thepark concerts, we felt that it was time to take it onto the next level and we are delighted that the involvement of Stobarts and Kingmoor Park has allowed that to happen.
“We want to continue to inspire the development of the city’s cultural offer to young people and families and build on the success of other local events.”
Academy schools are the cornerstone of government policy to drive up educational standards in deprived areas, and to strengthen links with the private sector.
The 1,500-pupil academy is set to replace St Aidan’s School in the city centre and North Cumbria Technology College in Harraby.
Private sponsorship of £2million is required. It would open in September 2009 and specialise in sport and science. It is currently in the feasibility study stage after initial approval by the Department for Education and Skills.
Westlife, famous for their hits Flying Without Wings, Mandy, Queen Of My Heart and World Of My Own, started out life with singer Brian McFadden but he quit the band in 2004 to go solo.
They will follow in the footsteps of the Sugababes and G4 who performed at the event last year. Other supporting acts will be announced in the next few weeks.
Shayne Ward won the X-Factor competition in 2005.
Auditions for a talent contest - The Stobart Factor - will be held in Whitehaven next week and Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester and Carlisle during July.
Winners of each audition will be invited to perform live in front of a large audience at Bitts Park on Sunday August 12 when the audience will vote for the winner.
Judges will include stars from Coronation Street and Mr Tinkler.
The prize will be the chance to record the winning song at a top studio in the UK.
Organisers are also planning hospitality marquees.
Tables for the event will go on sale soon. The event will finish with a fireworks display.
Westlife have sold more than 35 million records globally; had seven multi-platinum albums in the UK alone and scored a record breaking 14 UK number ones.
Tickets, priced at £20 for adults and £10 for under 16’s, go on sale today from the Sands Centre website
www.thesandscentre.co.ukThey are also available from News & Star offices in Barrow, Whitehaven, Workington and the Tourist Information Centre in Carlisle from June 18.
Telephone ticket sales will start next Wednesday from 01228 625222.
Tickets will also be on sale in the Stobart Village at next weekend’s Whitehaven Maritime Festival.
The event is being funded and organised by Stobarts, Kingmoor Park and Carlisle City Council.
It is supported by the News & Star, CFM and Cumbria County Council.
Credit/Source:
www.cumberland-news.co.uk