Music mogul Alan McGee keen to bring big names to Wolverhampton festival
The man who signed Oasis paid a visit to the Black Country where he is determined to stage a music festival next year as the region looks to leave the Covid crisis behind.
Alan McGee, the founder of Creation Records, wants to bring big name acts like the Happy Mondays, The Editors and Echo and the Bunnymen to West Park in Wolverhampton for a Creation Day festival.
It had been due to take place this weekend but had to be postponed due to the pandemic.
It will now be held on May 28 and 29 next year instead and Alan said: "We will be back even bigger, better and stronger with the festival in 12 months time and I hope once it gets going, bigger bands will trust it and more people will come."
Alan had been asked to curate the festival, which involved picking the bands for the festival, and the 60-year-old spoke about why the festival was taking place in Wolverhampton.
He said: "My agent was approached by Wolverhampton Council in regards to the festival and curating a day of it, which then grew into two days and became a bigger thing.
"It meant I've got to choose the bands playing at the festival and, with bands like Happy Mondays and Echo and the Bunnymen, I managed them and know what they can do.
"It's all been about putting on bands that are great to listen to and watch in action and I just wanted to put on bands that I would like to see play."
Alan formed Creation Records in 1983 and it went on to become one of the key labels in 80s and 90s indie music, with major acts such as Primal Scream, The Jesus and Mary Chain and Oasis.
Alan said the aim was to keep the original line-up for the festival in 2022, but said his focus was on the festival having a future.
He said: "I'd like the bands from this year to play next year, although it's down to availability.
"With the festival, if they can get it through the first year, then it will be fine going forward as festivals tend to fall at the first hurdle generally.
"If it's a one-year thing, then that's what it is, but I hope we sell enough tickets to ensure that people want to do it again."
During his visit, Alan met with the council’s cabinet member for city environment & climate change, Councillor Steve Evans, and chief executive Tim Johnson.
Alan also took part in a live Q&A at the city’s Arena Theatre with Clint Boon from Inspiral Carpets, talking about the festival and his life in the music business
He spoke about the naming of the festival after Creation Records and what he thought of the site at West Park.
He said: "Creation has a life of its own, with a management company and publishing company and I suppose it's me, it's my brand and it's why I'm here today.
"The park is great and looks like a proper, old-fashioned park in the centre of the city, and I like this city as it's just a part of England all on its own."
Tickets bought for this year are automatically transferred to next year's event or can be refunded with more tickets still available.
