UP to 20,000 music-lovers are expected to descend on Huddersfield’s Greenhead Park for two spectacular free concerts.
Civic chiefs are hard at work planning a repeat of last summer’s hugely successful People’s Prom and People’s Party, which were held in St George’s Square to coincide with the Queen’s visit.
This summer, the square is out of action because of a major revamp – but two huge concerts are planned for the arena area in Greenhead Park.
One will star the world-famous Huddersfield Choral Society and the second an as yet unnamed top pop act.
Kirklees Council officials wanted to build on the success of last year’s People’s Prom and People’s Party – held in St George’s Square to coincide with a visit by the Queen.
Now the two events are being repeated in the park, as the square will be out of use because of a huge regeneration scheme.
But officials promise the line-up of musical talent will be better than last year.
Huddersfield Choral Society will again headline the Prom concert, backed by the Orchestra of Opera North. They were a huge success last summer.
And secret negotiations are under way to bring a major contemporary music act for the following night, to lead the People’s Party. Last year the headline act were The Ordinary Boys.
The two events take place on the weekend of June 28 and 29, with the Prom being held on the Saturday and the Party the following evening.
Leader of the Council, Clr Robert Light said: “We introduced the People’s Concerts last year, in a weekend-long musical celebration to mark the Queen’s visit to Huddersfield.
“We’d never attempted a music festival on this scale before, and were completely overwhelmed by the public’s enthusiasm and support. It’s not often I receive letters from members of the public congratulating me on spending their Council Tax, but there were so many of these in our mailbag after last year’s event, we’re thrilled to announce that the People’s Concerts are back!
“It’s a real coup for us to be hosting both Opera North and the Choral Society for a second year running. Even commercial summer concerts like those at Harewood House can’t secure a line-up of this quality. You’re lucky to get an orchestra and a few soloists, while here in Huddersfield we can showcase the town’s very own choral society, at full 120-voice strength, accompanied by the best orchestra in the North of England.
“The quality of events we’re now staging here in Kirklees is really putting us on the map, and whilst it’s great that we can do this sort of thing for local people to enjoy, it also makes good business sense.
“Major events like the People’s Concerts and our renowned Festival of Light are not only bringing unprecedented audience numbers and raising our profile, but also paint a compelling picture of a place which is attractive to investors, developers, residents, workers, students and visitors.
“Our neighbouring authorities are busy building apartments and tower blocks without fully considering the wider factors which make a place attractive to invest and live in; yet here in Kirklees, we’re creating places where people want to be, and reaping the benefits as business and investors follow suit.”
