By Alan Wilson, Rocktalk writer

PLANS TO hold a two- day concert at Camperdown Park, Dundee, at New Year have been abandoned by the group behind the scheme.

However, Three Js Promotions—the consortium behind the project—is hoping to hold the event next spring.

The group wanted to bring the likes of Snow Patrol, The View, Deacon Blue, UB40 and Madness to Dundee on Hogmanay and January 1, but has been left “disappointed, but not disheartened” after it reluctantly withdrew its licence application.

The licence hearing was due to be heard next month, but it left too little time to book the bands.

Combined with concerns about the Hogmanay weather, the organiser felt it had no alternative but to shelve the plans.

The group says it will continue with plans for a concert at Camperdown next May, and added that it has been in talks with The View’s booking agent.

A spokesman for the promoter said preparations will continue, and that several other big name bands have been approached.

“It’s disappointing, but we were up against too many obstacles—especially the time factor.

“So we’ve withdrawn the application, but we’re now looking at doing something in May—and we’re also planning an autumn concert at Dens Park.

“We’ve booked the stadium for Sunday, October 7, and we’re hoping to confirm a big-name act for that very soon.

“We’ve already contacted some local bands and they’ve confirmed they want to take part.”

Three Js Promotions went as far as bringing Dave McCalmont, organiser of Radio 1’s Dundee Big Weekend, and Simon Battersby, the Big Weekend’s security manager, in as consultants.

The pair visited Camperdown Park to meet interested parties in an attempt to iron out any issues before the licence application went before the city council’s licensing committee on June 14.

The council postponed that meeting until the end of next month—and this proved an obstacle too far for the project to be successful.

Basing its proposal on the Big Weekend, the group says it had contacted all the relevant authorities and that it had funding in place.

It expected that up to 30,000 would attend the event over the two days.

A spokesman for The View last night confirmed the band had been contacted about an event in Dundee in May.

“The band would obviously be interested in appearing at something like that in Dundee if everything was in place,” the spokesman said.

A spokesperson for Dundee FC confirmed the consortium had booked Dens Park on October 7 for a live concert.