30th Jun 2008 - Lanarkshire to be venue of 80s music revival

A dynamic Glasgow business duo has invested £500,000 to launch the ultimate events company that will stage one of Europe's largest music festivals this summer.

Terraventas Ltd was launched earlier this year by two entertainment professionals - Malcolm Cannon, a former circus ring master, and Bradley Snelling, owner of a chain of stage schools. 

Following the success of the first "Retrofest", launched by Bradley in 2007 at Culzean Castle, the pair joined forces and with the support of North Lanarkshire Council have created a bigger and better event to be staged at Strathclyde Country Park this summer.

Retrofest, which the organisers hope will attract over 20,000 people, will run from 30 - 31 August and will reprise the best of the 1980s music scene with headline acts such as Boy George and the Bangles performing live on stage. The event will be a major boost for local business and tourism, injecting over £1million into the Lanarkshire economy, over the course of the weekend.

Cannon, a former circus ring master and commercial director for M&D's theme park, believes Scotland's music festivals are playing an increasingly important role in Scotland, both culturally and economically.

He said: "I was hugely impressed by the success of Retrofest last year and with Bradley's vision for the festival. Our partnership was a natural progression for both of us and is one which I believe will have a huge impact on the events industry.

"With the support of North Lanarkshire Council and our move to Strathclyde Country Park, Retrofest will certainly bring the area alive and bolster the local economy and tourism industry. We aim to put Central Scotland on the music festival map."