Midlands Music Festival

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The Midlands Music Festival was a yearly event held in the Castle Grounds of Tamworth, England, organized by the charity Just1Life. The first festival took place on 8 August 2009 and featured big acts like Lemar, Sugababes, Blue and JLS.

In 2010 the festival was a two-day event on 17 and 18 July, with a daily capacity of 25,000 people. The Main Stage lined up performers such as Blue, Sugababes, Lemar, JLS, Eoghan Quigg, The Automatic, Liz McClarnon, Austin Drage, Rachel Hylton, Chico, Andy Abraham, Laura White, Diversity, Twenty Twenty, Everybody Looks Famous and Double Time Heroes. The 2010 festival had a “Back to the ’80s” day on Saturday and “The Biggest Chart Acts” day on Sunday, with attendance reaching 25,000.

There was controversy about access to the Castle Grounds, which are covenant for the people of Tamworth. Some residents felt the festival limited their use of the land, but the council argued that the town would benefit and that staging the event was justified.

Questions also arose about whether some acts performed live or used backing tracks. It was later clarified that only three acts used backing tracks while singing live.

Saturday’s lineup included Billy Ocean, Hot Chocolate, Hue and Cry, Kajagoogoo, Level 42, Aswad, Sister Sledge, Shakatak, Alexander O’Neal and The Christians. Sunday’s lineup included Westlife, The Saturdays, Scouting for Girls, Alexandra Burke, Chipmunk, Tinie Tempah, Peter Andre, Taio Cruz, Olly Murs, McLean, Twist and Pulse, The Wanted, DJ Ironik and Connected (Britain’s Got Talent finalists).