Concerts at Ludlow Castle to continue until 2033

The Live at Ludlow Castle gigs are set to continue until at least 2033, organisers have announced.

The annual concert series will run for the next seven years, after the castle and organisers Futuresound Group reached a deal to keep the event running.

About 50,000 fans have flocked to the venue this summer for the popular open-air shows, which have seen Snow Patrol, Paul Weller, Tom Grennan and a number of other acts take to the stage.

Jack Tavernor, CEO of Powis Estates which owns the castle, said it would "keep Ludlow on the map."

"Everybody loves the concerts," he said. "There's a real buzz around Ludlow because of it."

Organisers also announced that the 2027 concerts would take place between 15 and 25 July.

It will be the fifth year the 11th Century castle has hosted the concerts, having previously featured artists including Supergrass, Elbow, Texas and Olly Murs following their debut in 2023.

Colin Oliver, managing director of Futuresound Group, said the announcement was "exciting news".

He added the company wanted to improve the event every year.

"We're going to be extending our contract until 2033, which means going forward we'll be able to invest more into this amazing event for the town and for the local area," he told the BBC.

"It means that we can carry on... investing in infrastructure and it means that we can invest in artists going forward, what's really important is we carry on bringing artists to entertain all people."

This summer also saw the castle's grounds transformed into a large England Fan Zone for the World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina with the game shown on giant screens.

Gemma England, the castle's general manager, added that the venue was looking forward to welcoming more visitors in the years ahead.

"The impact of Live at Ludlow Castle on our town is clear to see, with thousands of people coming to Ludlow and discovering everything our town has to offer," she said.

"We're incredibly proud to play a part in the event's success and to work alongside Futuresound, whose commitment to delivering exceptional live music experiences is matched by their respect for both Ludlow Castle and the wider town."

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.