Archived Posts

Global pop star ANNE-MARIE is heading to the Yorkshire coast this summer for a headline show at the UK’s biggest open-air arena.

The chart-topping singer-songwriter and nine-time BRIT Award nominee will bring her high-octane and empowering brand of pop to Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Sunday August 29.

HRVY,  GRACEY and Samantha Harvey join Anne-Marie on the bill for what promises to be a sensational August Bank Holiday show. Tickets go on general sale at 9am on Friday April 2 via ticketmaster.co.uk

Anne-Marie’s rise to stardom has been nothing short of meteoric. A former West End child star, she has gone onto become one of the world’s most-loved and successful, pop artists of recent years, with four UK Top 10 singles and 4.5 billion global streams to her name.

A swarm of relatable chart gems – including her breakthrough hit ‘Alarm’, the Number 1 Clean Bandit and Sean Paul smash ‘Rockabye’, and her Ed Sheeran collaboration ‘2002’ – have cemented her place as a ubiquitous, unshakable, and undeniable voice in pop music worldwide.

Last year’s comeback single ‘Birthday’ returned her to the Top 40 before ‘Don’t Play’ – her collaboration with KSI and Digital Farm Animals – hit Number 2 in the UK. Millions recently tuned in to see Anne-Marie’s debut Grand Final win as mentor on ITV’s The Voice.

With more than a billion combined streams to his name and a social media following of 10 million, HRVY has gone from singing in his bedroom to global star since signing his first record deal at just 15-years-old.

Hits like ‘Holiday’, ‘Phobia’, ‘Personal’, ‘Me Because of You’ and ‘Good Vibes’ have led to two sell-out UK and European tours and a new global record deal with BMG.

GRACEY is one of the most-talked about young artists around. A Platinum-selling songwriter since the age of just 16, writing for the likes of Rita Ora, Olly Murs and Kylie, GRACEY’S 2020 breakthrough collaboration with 220 Kid ‘Don’t Need Love’ was a UK Top 10 smash.

Follow-up ‘Empty Love’, a collaboration with Australian singer Ruel, assured her growing popularity before the release of her second EP ‘The Art of Closure’.

Samantha Harvey is a singer, songwriter and one of the UK’s top social media stars. Her singles ‘Forgive Forget’, ‘Please’ and ‘Get to Know You’ have amassed millions of streams and Radio 1 playlisted. On top of her own sold-out UK tour Samantha has supported the likes of Nick Jonas, Craig David and Rita Ora.

This unmissable Scarborough OAT line-up is presented by Cuffe and Taylor. Promoter Peter Taylor said: “We are absolutely delighted to announce a headline show this summer with Anne-Marie, supported by HRVY, GRACEY and Samantha Harvey.

“Anne-Marie has had hits around the world, and we’ve had so many requests to bring her here to Scarborough OAT. This is not only going to be a very popular announcement but one of the must-see shows of the summer.”

Get ready for WonderHall – a brand new six-day live music festival coming to Lancashire’s stunning coast this summer.

Launched by the team behind the hugely popular and successful Lytham Festival, WonderHall will see six nights of live music taking place in the grounds of historic Lytham Hall from Wednesday August 25 to Bank Holiday Monday August 30.

The already announced Lytham Proms concert headlined by celebrated tenor Russell Watson on Sunday August 29 will form part of the WonderHall festival.

The full line-up will include a mix of major headliners and picnic-style concerts with full details and tickets on sale soon.

WonderHall director Peter Taylor said: “We are so incredibly excited to be able to bring live music back to the Lancashire coast for 2021.

“WonderHall is a completely new concept for us and one that we hope will be a great success. Final plans are currently being put in place to bring an exciting and eclectic mix of fantastic headline artists who will appeal across age groups and we can’t wait to announce who they are.”

The announcement comes as the decision was taken to postpone this summer’s Lytham Festival until 2022.

Peter added: “It was with a heavy heart that we had to postpone Lytham Festival but the dates were just too close to the lifting of restrictions. WonderHall will take place almost two months after Lytham Festival was due to be held and gives us the opportunity to host what will be an incredible series of gigs in the picturesque parkland of Lytham Hall.

“Live music brings people together to enjoy some of the best moments of their life and we look forward to welcoming audiences to our very special WonderHall.”

For more details go to www.wonderhall.co.uk

ENDS

Drag Royalty will Ru-Turn in 2022 for the UK’s biggest ever RuPaul tour.

Join the queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK for an evening of endless eleganza extravaganza as this brand-new tour takes in 19 theatres and venues across England, Scotland and Wales.

Witness the Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent of your favourite queens LIVE on stage as they sashay into a theatre near you.

Tickets go on general sale from www.cuffeandtaylor.com at 10am Friday March 26.

Acclaimed for their amazing production values, expect the unexpected in this glittering tour featuring UK Season 2 Finalists Tayce, Bimini Bon Boulash, Ellie Diamond and Laurence Chaney, along with stars from Drag Race UK.

Presented by Werq The World producers Voss Events and creators of Drag Race World of Wonder, in cooperation with Live Nation and Cuffe and Taylor, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK: The Official Tour will visit:

02 FEBRUARY    IPSWICH REGENT THEATRE

04 FEBRUARY    OXFORD NEW THEATRE

05 FEBRUARY    EDINBURGH USHER HALL

06 FEBRUARY    GLASGOW SECC ARMADILLO

07 FEBRUARY     NEWCASTLE O2 CITY HALL

08 FEBRUARY     NOTTINGHAM ROYAL CONCERT HALL

10 FEBRUARY     BOURNEMOUTH PAVILION

11 FEBRUARY    SOUTHEND CLIFFS PAVILION

12 FEBRUARY    MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE

14 FEBRUARY    SHEFFIELD CITY HALL

15 FEBRUARY    BLACKPOOL OPERA HOUSE

16 FERUARY       LLANDUDNO VENUE CYMRU

18 FEBRUARY    BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY HALL

19 FEBRUARY    CARDIFF ST DAVID’S HALL

20 FEBRUARY    LIVERPOOL EMPIRE

23 FEBRUARY    BASINGSTOKE ANVIL

24 FEBRUARY    PORTSMOUTH GUILDHALL

26 FEBRUARY    PLYMOUTH PAVILIONS

27 FEBRUARY    LONDON PALLADIUM

Ben Hatton, Director of Theatre Touring for Cuffe and Taylor, said: “We are thrilled to be working with the Voss Events Team for what will be Drag Race’s biggest ever UK theatre tour.

“RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is an exciting show and is always a huge hit so we look forward to presenting a series of outrageously entertaining shows.”

Tickets start at £35 and there are exclusive VIP options where guests can enjoy a private meet and greet with the queens before the show!

Two new shows have been added to BBC A Question of Sport’s biggest ever live tour.

Demand for tickets for A Question of Sport Live 2021 – the legendary TV show’s first live tour in a decade – has been so phenomenal two new matinee shows have been added at Nottingham Royal Concert Hall on Saturday September 11th and Birmingham Symphony Hall on Sunday December 5th.

Tickets for the new matinee dates in Nottingham and Birmingham go on sale at 9am on Friday March 26th via ticketmaster.co.uk. Last remaining tickets for all other dates are on sale now.

Starring long-time host Sue Barker and popular team captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell – along with a host of big-name guests from across the sporting world to be announced – A Question of Sport Live is the perfect way for fans to see the hit show up close in a thrilling live environment.

This will be A Question of Sport’s first tour since 2011 and these unmissable live shows will be a fun-packed and joyous lap of honour for Sue, Matt and Phil who step down from the TV show this year.
The live shows follow the popular TV format featuring many of the rounds and challenges fans of the hit show know and love. This all-new live 2021 tour is brought to you by Cuffe and Taylor, Live Nation and Simon Fielder Productions in association with BBC Studios.

Ben Hatton, Director of Theatre Touring for Cuffe and Taylor, said: “This is the first ‘A Question of Sport Live’ tour in a decade and demand for tickets has been truly phenomenal.

“Therefore, we are delighted to announce two all-new matinee shows in Nottingham and Birmingham. We would advise fans to secure their tickets early as these dates will sell out.”

For full dates and ticket details click here

The charitable efforts of the late Bobby Ball will continue with the launch of a new charity in his name – The Bobby Ball Foundation.

The registered charity will support organisations Bobby was so passionate about along the Fylde coast.

And to launch it a weekend of spectacular events celebrating the life of the comedy legend is being planned to raise money for the foundation.

Bobby sadly died in October at the age of 76 after contracting Coronavirus.

Now his widow Yvonne has set up The Bobby Ball Foundation to raise money for the charities close to Bobby’s heart while also celebrating the very best of British variety.

Two star-studded events will be held at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens this November –  major stars of stage and screen will entertain with a variety performance in the splendid Opera House on Friday November 12, while a second night will see a spectacular “Bobby Ball” take place in the stunning Empress Ballroom on Saturday November 13.

The events will be organised through The Bobby Ball Foundation with all money raised given to Lytham’s Lowther Pavilion and Blue Skies Hospitals Fund – two organisations Bobby was an active patron and supporter of.

Money from the foundation will also be donated towards the cost of a Bobby Ball statue in Lytham’s Lowther Gardens. Fylde councillors have already given the green light to go ahead with the planning of a statue in Bobby’s memory, with more than £20,000 already raised towards its cost.

Speaking about the formation of The Bobby Ball Foundation, Yvonne said: “Bob was born to entertain and whether he was on stage or spending time with friends, it was always his mission to make people laugh. We are all devastated he has gone but we are lucky to have years of many happy and very funny memories.

“Bob was a huge personality and while he loved to perform he was also passionate about helping others. He would be absolutely honoured to know we have set up a charity foundation in his name and that we are planning two big fundraising events.

“Like Bob, these events are going to be filled with big personalities and we look forward to revealing more as final plans are put in place.”

Bobby was born and bred in Oldham where, in the 1960s, he met his life-long comedy partner Tommy Cannon when they both worked as welders.

They started out their careers as a singing duo but switched to comedy when they discovered, in Bobby’s words: “Comedy acts were paid a few quid more!” After years of hard work and playing working men’s clubs across the country the comedy duo Cannon and Ball eventually made them both household names entertaining TV viewers and live audiences from the 1970s onwards. Cannon and Ball enjoyed a hugely successful career as a double act and were loved and respected as singers too with a big part of their highly successful TV show regularly featuring the pair singing. More recently Bobby attracted a new generation of fans with TV dramas including Not Going Out and Mount Pleasant.

Bobby and Yvonne made the Fylde coast their home in recent years settling in Lytham where Bobby threw himself into being part of the community and getting involved and helping out where he could.

Yvonne added: “Bob loved living in Lytham, the whole of the Fylde coast had a special place in his heart as he and Tommy spent so much time here with their countless summer season shows in Blackpool.

“Bob was never one to sit and relax and when we came to Lytham he wanted to get as involved in the community as he could. Both Lowther Pavilion and Blue Skies Hospitals fund were two organisations he did as much as he could to help and he was proud to be involved with them.

“More than ever before, this past year has shown us how important it is to support charities where we can. Lowther Pavilion is a community theatre which relies on the public’s support and Blue Skies is an NHS charity providing extra facilities and amazing support for patients. Bob would be thrilled to know his legacy will help these charities and that we are working positively to make these events and The Bobby Ball Foundation a brilliant success.

“And the fact Bob’s fans called for a statue in his memory is something he would just be so delighted with. Fylde councillors voted unanimously to support the statue and, through the Foundation, we will help raise the money required for this wonderful and lasting tribute.”

How to Grow Up (and Feel Amazing!): The No Worries Guide for Boys, takes a refreshingly holistic approach to this important period of growth in a boy’s life.

Covering topics such as mental health and self-care, relationships, body confidence and healthy eating, children and young people are given all the tools they need in order to cultivate resilience and learn how to take care of both body and mind as they navigate their way through puberty.

Content includes:
– Puberty and physical development, including genital, skin, hair and voice changes
– Looking after your body, from shaving, good hygiene and healthy eating to body confidence and exercise
– Mental health awareness, including the importance of sleep, managing mood swings and anxiety
– Managing relationships, from parents and siblings to friends and crushes, and how to cope with bullying
– A sensitive, age-appropriate introduction to sex, consent and privacy
– Navigating the online world, including social media and cybersafety

Dr Ranj Singh says: ‘Wow! I am over the moon to have had the opportunity to write a book for young people at a time when life can be so confusing and tricky.

“Growing up in today’s world isn’t easy and young boys are faced with so many challenges at this stage of their lives – their bodies, their minds, relationships with friends and family, the world around them, and so much more. It can be difficult to know where to start with it all!

“So, I want this book to give its readers the information, confidence and enthusiasm they need on that growing up journey. For some, How to Grow Up (and Feel Amazing!) may be a starting point to find out more, for others it may be the friendly companion they need for some reassurance. This is the book I needed when I was growing up. I am hugely proud of it and can’t wait for you to read it.”

The hope families will soon be reunited and able to make new memories through live music has inspired a heart-warming new advertising campaign for Lytham Festival.

In celebration of Diana Ross and Lionel Richie both headlining the five-night festival – and the return of live events next summer – the Motown legends’ classic 1981 hit Endless Love provides the perfect soundtrack for the all-new ad filmed on Lancashire’s Fylde coast.

Titled Music Makes Memories, the story begins in the present day as couple Jane and Tom prepare for the run up to Christmas without their family. As Tom flicks through old records he and Jane are thrown back to their 1980s wedding. We then travel through their life as we see them become parents and enjoy life with their daughter Katie, before the arrival of grand-children and busy family Christmases.

SEE THE AD HERE

Christmas 2020 is not so busy with Katie and her family only joining the festivities via video call. A sad Jane and Tom go for a walk and Tom surprises his wife with tickets to Lytham Festival 2021 so they can see the artists who inspired their first wedding dance all those years ago.

To see the advert click HERE

Lytham Festival director Peter Taylor said: “This year, more than ever, we are all reminiscing about the past, about a time when we could celebrate freely and enjoy live music together.

“We can all pinpoint how a particular song evokes certain memories and for our characters Jane and Tom that song is the fabulous Endless Love.

“As both Diana Ross and Lionel Richie are headlining individual nights at Lytham Festival 2021 we wanted to create an advert that celebrated their wonderful music while also emphasising how important music is in the lives of us all.

“The message that Music Makes Memories has never been truer and we are looking forward to bringing our Lytham Festival family back together in 2021 so we can make more memories.”

Diana Ross headlines the first night of Lytham Festival on Wednesday June 30, while Lionel Richie headlines on Saturday July 3. They will also be joined by Lewis Capaldi (Thursday July 1), Snow Patrol (Friday July 2) and Duran Duran (Sunday July 4).

Endless Love was shot on location in Lytham with the town’s iconic windmill featuring as well as Clifton Square, St Cuthbert’s Church Hall and private homes.

The track was performed and arranged by AJ Brown.

Peter added: “We are delighted with the musical arrangement and visuals for the ad. We feel so passionately about returning to live music next summer and given the calibre of artists in our line-up we decided to create an advert that we believe envelopes that passion.”

For more information go to www.lythamfestival.com

Multi-million selling recording artist Bryan Adams is coming to the Yorkshire coast next summer as part of a spectacular open-air tour set in the grounds of some of the UK’s most beautiful venues.

This must-see tour – set against a series of stunning, picturesque backdrops – heads to Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Thursday July 1.

Tickets go on general sale at 9am on Friday December 11 via ticketmaster.co.uk and scarboroughopenairtheatre.com

 The full dates for the 2021 Outdoor UK Tour are:

Sat 26 June                     Bristol                              Queens Square

Sun 27 June                    Cardiff                              Cardiff Castle

Thurs 1 July                    Scarborough                  Open Air Theatre

Fri 2 July                          Widnes                            DCBL Halton Stadium

Sat 3 July                         Telford                             QEII Arena

Mon 5 July                      Cornwall                          Eden Sessions

Tues 6 July                      Exeter                               Powderham Castle

Thurs 8 July                    Canterbury                     The Spitfire Ground

Fri 9 July                          Cornbury                         Cornbury Music Festival

Sat 10 July                       Leeds                                Harewood House

This will be Bryan Adams’ second appearance at Scarborough Open Air Theatre following his sell-out headline show at the venue – the UK’s premier open-air arena – in 2016.

 He joins the likes of The Beach Boys, Lionel Richie, Duran Duran, Crowded House, Westlife, Lewis Capaldi and Nile Rodgers and CHIC among next summer’s Scarborough OAT headliners – with more artists still to be announced.

Scarborough OAT programmer Peter Taylor said: “Bryan Adams is one of the world’s best-selling artists and an international music legend – we are beyond thrilled he is returning to Scarborough Open Air Theatre next summer.

 “Bryan joins an incredible line-up of headliners for 2021 – and we cannot wait for the season to start!”

West End and Broadway sensation Marisha Wallace is delighted to announce an all-new UK tour for 2021.

The musical powerhouse – who has dazzled both the Royal Variety Performance and Strictly Come Dancing in recent days – is heading out on a six-date tour next autumn.

The announcement follows the release of Marisha’s stunning new album ‘Tomorrow’. Named BBC Radio 2 Album of the Week, ‘Tomorrow’ is a wonderful collection of uplifting show songs and sing-along pop classics delivered by one of the most instantly recognisable and beloved voices of a generation.

Marisha, the star of such smash-hit stage shows as Dreamgirls, Waitress, Aladdin and The Book of Mormon, will play these unmissable dates:

FRI SEP 24         ILKLEY                             KING’S HALL

MON SEP 27       LONDON                       ARTS THEATRE

THU SEP 30      ABERYSTWYTH            ARTS CENTRE

FRI OCT 1           CARDIFF                         ROYAL WELSH COLLEGE OF MUSIC

SAT OCT 2         BIRMINGHAM              HIPPODROME (PATRICK STUDIO)

WED OCT 6       LYTHAM                         LOWTHER PAVILION

Tickets go on general sale at 9am on Friday December 11 via cuffeandtaylor.com

Marisha, who will also star alongside Michael Ball in the all-new West End production of Hairspray in 2021, said: “The thing I have absolutely missed the most in 2020 is performing in front of a live audience. My first ever UK tour was halted due to the pandemic earlier this year so it will be wonderful to get back into theatres in 2021 and do what I love the most.

 “The response to my new album has been incredible. All the songs on the album have a really personal and special meaning for me, I loved recording them, and I cannot wait to sing these wonderful songs for audiences across the UK.”

 UK audiences have taken Marisha to their hearts ever since the girl who grew up on a North Carolina farm arrived in the West End to take on the iconic role of Effie White in Dreamgirls.

With a sensational voice that is guaranteed to bring a chill to your spine and a tear to your eye – her awe-inspiring rendition of ‘And I Am Telling You…’ quite simply has to be seen and heard to be believed – Marisha proves she is more than a singer, more than a performer, she is an inspiration.

Having suffered Covid-19 herself, she spent her recovery putting together a self-recorded version of the classic anthem of hope ‘Tomorrow’ to raise funds for those in the theatre industry affected by lockdown. Marisha independently released the track, which ended up on the BBC Radio 2 playlist and landed the Number 2 spot on the download charts.

Now, with the support of Decca Records and an album packed with songs full of hope Marisha is a force to be reckoned with.

Her Decca debut includes the barnstorming radio hit ‘Before I Go’ – a powerful anthem of pride, inner strength and empowerment – alongside such classics as ‘Purple Rain’, ‘Climb Every Mountain’, ‘The Show Must Go On’ on which she duets with Michael Ball and ‘Alive’ (written by Adele and Sia).

Marisha felt passionately there should be strong female representation on the album and all original tracks are written by women. ‘Free’ is written by JinJin (Little Mix, Paloma Faith), ‘Divine’ by Camille Purcell (Jess Glynne, Little Mix) and ‘Faith’ by Natasha Bedingfield.

LISTEN TO ‘BEFORE I GO’ HERE

Yorkshire’s very own Kaiser Chiefs are heading to the coast next summer for what promises to be a stunning headline show at Scarborough Open Air Theatre.

The Leeds indie heroes will bring their no-holds-barred rock ‘n’ roll celebration to the UK’s largest open-air arena on Sunday July 11.

Tickets go on general sale via scarboroughopenairtheatre.com at 9am on Friday December 11.

Next summer’s Scarborough show will be a much-requested return to the venue for Kaiser Chiefs. The multi-award-winning band played an explosive show at Scarborough OAT back in 2017 – and fans have been asking for them to return ever since.

Kaiser Chiefs frontman and national treasure Ricky Wilson said: “We cannot wait to get back to playing live shows again and it will be great to return to this stunning Yorkshire venue. We had a cracking night there in 2017 so roll on July 11!”

Kaiser Chiefs – Wilson (vocals), Simon Rix (bass), Andrew ‘Whitey’ White (guitar), Nick ‘Peanut’ Baines (keyboards) and Vijay Mistry (drums) – are undoubtedly one of the most treasured bands of their generation.

Sixteen years into an incredible career, they have truly made their mark on the British music scene with such anthemic hits as Oh My God, I Predict A Riot, Everyday I Love You Less and Less, Ruby, Never Miss A Beat and Hole In My Soul.

And the great news is there is absolutely no sign of them slowing down!

Kaiser Chiefs have released seven original studio albums including their Mercury-nominated debut Employment, which sold more than two million copies, and Number 1 follow up Yours Truly, Angry Mob which went twice-platinum in the UK.

For their most recent release, 2019’s critically acclaimed Duck, the group returned to their original label home Polydor where they released their first four albums. Featuring the lead single Record Collection, it hit the UK Top 5 ahead of a huge hometown show at Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium.

Kaiser Chiefs join Lewis Capaldi, Crowded House, Duran Duran, Snow Patrol, Lionel Richie, Westlife, and Olly Murs among the headliners at Scarborough OAT next summer.

Scarborough OAT venue programmer Peter Taylor said: “Ever since their show here in 2017 fans have been asking for us to bring Kaiser Chiefs back to Scarborough OAT.

 “We are delighted to oblige, and this is going to be another all-action rock’n’roll show that no fan will want to miss.”