LOOPFEST has announced that Ocean Colour Scene will headline a major outdoor concert at The Quarry in Shrewsbury on Friday 30 April 2027, joined by special guests Sleeper.

The concert forms part of LOOPFEST 2027, taking place from Thursday 29 April to Sunday 2 May, and marks an ambitious new chapter for the independent Shrewsbury music festival.

Ocean Colour Scene, one of Britain's most recognisable guitar bands, rose to prominence during the 1990s with a string of hits including The Riverboat Song, The Day We Caught the Train, You've Got It Bad and Hundred Mile High City. Their landmark album Moseley Shoals became one of the defining British guitar records of the decade, and the band continue to draw large audiences across the country.

Joining them are Sleeper, fronted by Louise Wener, whose hits include Inbetweener, Sale of the Century and Nice Guy Eddie. The band enjoyed considerable chart success during the Britpop era and remain a popular live act.

The concert will take place in a specially constructed arena at The Quarry, with a capacity of up to 5,000 people. Further supporting artists will be announced.

While the concerts at The Quarry represent a significant expansion for LOOPFEST, organisers say the larger events have a clear purpose: to help fund and sustain the wider festival programme across Shrewsbury.

Since launching in 2022 with 17 venues and 75 acts, LOOPFEST has grown into a major fixture in the town's cultural calendar.

The 2026 festival brought approximately 250 performances to 40 venues, including independent pubs, bars and dedicated live music spaces.

Organisers estimate that the festival generated approximately 30,000 additional visits to Shrewsbury, contributing more than £2 million to the local economy.

The new Quarry concerts are intended to generate income that can be reinvested into the festival's grassroots programme, helping to keep music accessible while creating opportunities for emerging artists and supporting independent venues.

Alongside the annual festival, LOOPFEST is developing year-round opportunities for grassroots musicians through LOOP Venue, its dedicated live music space in Shrewsbury.

The venue is home to LOOP Sessions, an ongoing series of professionally recorded live performances showcasing emerging and independent artists. The project, which is partially funded by Arts Council England, is already well underway, with recordings being released to help artists promote their music, reach new audiences and develop their careers.

Ocean Colour Scene with special guests Sleeper will perform at The Quarry, Shrewsbury, on Friday 30 April 2027. Tickets are on general sale from 10am on Thursday 22 October here.