Live music proves popular in Oswestry

Tom Norton, who runs events management company Worlds Biggest Events, said he had been left overwhelmed with the success of his first three major gigs in the town and hoped this would lead to a boost for the night-time economy.

Mr Norton said his three gigs which included international rock and roll act Vintage Trouble, Rich Robinson from the Black Crowes and The Martin Harley Band all held at The Ironworks, saw hundreds of tickets sold.

He said they were forced to turn many people away at the door on all three nights due to the last minute demand for tickets.

Mr Norton said: “We had advertised all of the acts well in advance but many people left it to the last minute to try and buy tickets and then we had a sudden rush for tickets in the hours leading up to them and all of them became a sell-out.

“People who came to the first realised we are serious about organising good quality acts at good venues and immediately booked for our next gig - this really could be just the start for music fans in Oswestry.”

Mr Norton added: “Many people travelled from Wolverhampton, and as far as London and Devon, which has a knock-on impact on local tourism as they stayed in local B&Bs and ate in local restaurants and many of them made a weekend of it and shopped in the town where they loved the individuality of such a market town.

“'It was wonderful at the end of the night to have people come up to you saying what a great night they had had and asking who we had got booked for the next gig.”

Lead singer Martin Harley said: “Having played Oswestry before we were expecting a decent crowd, but when Worlds Biggest Events said it was a sell-out we knew we'd be in for a good night.”

The band were then taken to meet world famous guitar craftsman Patrick James Eggle who is based on Maesbury Industrial Estate.

“As Patrick has made custom guitars for some of the greatest guitarists in the world, the band were eager to try some out,” Mr Norton added.