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Let’s Rock Norwich! 2017: Retro festival will boost city’s profile to host live music
The stage being built at Earlham Park for Let's Rock! Norwich. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2017
A retro 1980s festival is boosting Norwich's profile as a city of live music.
A marquee and the stage being built at Earlham Park ready for Saturday's Let's Rock Norwich! retro music festival. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2017
That is the claim of a business chief who will be one of the 15,000 people flocking to Earlham Park this Saturday for the inaugural Let's Rock Norwich! event.
Tony Hadley, lead singer of Spandau Ballet, will headline the festival which starts at noon and finishes at 10.30pm.
Stefan Gurney, executive director of Norwich Business Improvement District, who is going to the gig, said: 'It is very positive. The city has another vibrant, big festival for a calendar of events which is already ramping up.'
He added that the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend at Earlham Park in 2015 showed Norwich had the infrastructure to cope with big live music events.
Tony Hadley who is headlining Let's Rock Norwich! The Retro Festival at Earlham Park in Norwich on June 24, 2017. Pictured is Tony Hadley. Picture: Let's Rock Norwich! The Retro Festival. - Credit: supplied by Let's Rock Norwich!
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Mr Gurney said Let's Rock Norwich! increased the city's profile and businesses including bars and restaurants would benefit from the thousands of people visiting the area.
MORE: Everything you need to know on the day for Let's Rock! NorwichMORE: Retro Let's Rock Norwich music festival featuring Spandau Ballet lead singer Tony Hadley close to selling outBlur drummer and Labour county councillor Dave Rowntree, who represents the area of Earlham Park, said: 'I love watching other people play live and there are some amazing names playing this show. Tony Hadley has a great voice.
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'The festival is great for Norwich. Earlham Park is the jewel in the crown for Norwich.'
He said it was great the park had always attracted big acts, including Jimi Hendrix and The Kinks in the 1960s, and the big outdoor venue was great for people in the city and surrounding area.
Mr Rowntree added he was looking forward to watching Little Mix play at Earlham Park on September 3.
He said it was important for big acts to inspire future musicians.
Ingrid Henry, who runs the Earlham Park Café, said the business would remain open on the day of the festival.
She said: 'It is great that things like Let's Rock Norwich! come to the city. It is great for the community.'
Mrs Henry wanted to see more free children's activities organised by Earlham Park, owned and managed by Norwich City Council.
Crews started putting up the stage and other festival features, including food and drink stalls, on Sunday morning.
To buy the last remaining tickets visit www.letsrocknorwich.com
