CHART-topping boyband The Wanted were unveiled as the first headline act at July’s Love Luton Festival in front of scores of excited school children yesterday.
The group, nominated for a Best British Single gong at next months Brit Awards, will perform at Popes Meadow on Friday July 6 to kick off a three day celebration culminating in the arrival of the Olympic torch in the town on July 8.
Year Seven students from Lea Manor High School screamed and whooped with glee as festival artistic director Rob Lee revealed the name of the band at a special assembly at the school.
Mr Lee said: “Today we’re sending a clear message to the rest of the UK - Luton is big. I want this to be a lasting legacy for Luton and something that will resonate with people long after the Olympic flame and the games have left the UK.
“We carried out market research and the name that kept coming up when we asked young people who they would like to see was The Wanted.”
The band, best known for number one hits All Time Low and Glad You Came, sold 400,000 copies of their eponymous debut album following its release back in October 2010.
Two Lea Manor students, Ben Hammond and Ebrahim Sanyang, both 11, were delighted to become the first to snap up tickets for the show after winning a pair for answering a question after the act were announced.
Tickets went on general sale immediately after the act was revealed.
On top of a £30 ‘early bird’ ticket fee, fans will face a £2 booking fee on top of the cover price when booking online.
Families taking advantage of a £110 family ticket for four will also pay an extra £8 surcharge.
Tickets will also be on sale from the Tourist Information Centre in St George’s Square and the Hat Factory, but a £1 fee will also apply to anyone picking tickets up in person.
Despite Mr Lee insisting that tickets for the band’s Luton gig will be cheaper than the band’s other gigs anywhere else in the country, tickets for The Wanted’s sold out arena tour are listed for as little as £19.50 plus booking fee at various UK venues.
Prices will increase to £35 for an individual ticket and £130 for families after April 8.
Luton residents will not be given first refusal for tickets.
Town Hall chiefs hope that the event will be self funding, but will have to sell a minimum of 10,000 tickets for both the Friday and Saturday night to break even.
For more information, or to buy tickets, log onto www.luton.gov.uk/2012festival.
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