First Chase band to be unveiled

The countdown has started to the announcement of the first band signed up to perform on Cannock Chase next summer.

The Forestry Commission is due to announce who will perform on Monday and tickets will go on sale on Friday.

But organisers are remaining tight-lipped about who will take to the stage on June 27, and details of who will perform at the beauty spot on the following two days are set to be announced after Christmas.

The band being announced on Monday will perform on the Friday night and arrangements are being made to secure artists for the Saturday and Sunday.

This year's three concerts, only the second year large-scale gigs to have been staged there, failed to make a profit.

Heavy rain meant organisers had to spend £8,000 bringing in wood chippings and stone to lay in front of the stage to ensure people's health and safety.

Around 4,500 people attended each of this year's three concerts which featured The Feeling, James Morrison and Jools Holland with special guests including Lulu.

Last year's concerts, which were the first to take place at the beauty spot, saw UB40 and Embrace take to the stage and also failed to make a profit because of the cost of excavating the ground.