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O2 festival scrapped
PLANS to hold the third O2 Wireless Festival in Leeds this year have been scrapped.
Live Nation, the firm behind the annual musical extravaganza, have pulled the plug on the event which has seen acts like Kaiser Chiefs, The Who and the White Stripes play headline sets in the stunning grounds of Harewood House.
They say the northern, "stripped-down version" of the multi-day music event failed to take off in the same way as the London gig has since its launch in 2005.
Instead, this summer, warm-up gigs featuring acts playing at the Hyde Park festival in July will be held at indoor venues around the country.
They will be called the O2 Wireless Weekenders and will take place throughout May and June.
Live Nation said: "O2 and Live Nation are determined to bring the flavour of the O2 Wireless Festival to as wide an audience as possible, by arranging a series of pre-festival gigs around the UK during May/June 2008.
"Under the banner of O2 Wireless Weekenders, a number of confirmed artists appearing at the O2 Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, London, will take to the stage in local clubs, giving music fans a unique opportunity to enjoy their respective music.
"Due to this new initiative, we will no longer stage the O2 Wireless Festival in Leeds."
Acts already confirmed for the Hyde Park jamboree, from July 3 to July 6, include Fatboy Slim, Underworld, Bootsy Collins and Mark Ronson – the DJ of the moment who produced Amy Winehouse's award-winning album Back to Black – plus Counting Crows, Ben Harper and Powderfinger.
It is not yet known whether these acts will play the warm-up shows, as more artists are to be confirmed.
Elaine Speight, director of visitor services and development at Harewood, said: "Obviously I'm disappointed that the O2 Festival is not going to have a northern presence this year. It was a popular event and, I believe, was an established date in the festival calendar."
Although that rock music festival won't be taking place, there will still be the annual Leeds Festival to look forward to and Harewood will be playing host to legendary musician Eric Clapton in June and chart-topping glamourpusses Girls Aloud in August.
The inaugural year of the Leeds O2 Wireless Festival – 2006 – saw bands including Massive Attack, Goldfrapp and The Zutons entertain the crowds over two days.
Last year's event was extended to three days and festival-goers were able to camp in the grounds of the stately home.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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