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Concert promoters Cuffe and Taylor are delighted to announce the launch of a new VIP pass for this summer’s shows at Scarborough Open Air Theatre.

The sensational Hacienda Classical, featuring Peter Hook, Bez and 808 State, got this year’s live music series underway in style on Saturday night.

Rock superstars Biffy Clyro are next to headline the UK’s largest open-air arena on Friday.

And ahead of this not-to-be-missed gig, the Yorkshire coast venue has today revealed fans can now access the venue early with a new VIP pass.

Priced at £19.50, the pass – which will be available for every show at the venue this summer – enables concert goers to get into the venue at 5pm (an hour before gates open).

They can kick back and relax at the Open Air Theatre’s all-new café THE VENUE, situated alongside the North Bay Railway station, where they can enjoy a nine-inch pizza and a beer, wine or soft drink of their choice.

Numbers are limited to 50 per show and can only be purchased by those with a valid concert ticket.

Peter Taylor, director of Cuffe and Taylor, said: “People have asked us whether we could provide a VIP pass for concerts and we are delighted to be able to now offer this special early entry ticket.

“The refurbishment of the café allows us to be able to do this and will provide the perfect setting for 50 concert goers to relax ahead of what will be a sensational night of live music.”

Biffy Clyro will be followed at the OAT by pop legend Cliff Richard (June 26), West End Proms (July 5), Years & Years (July 18), Madness (July 19), Lewis Capaldi (July 20 and August 30), Jess Glynne (July 21), Kylie (August 1) and Queen Machine Symphonic featuring Kerry Ellis (August 31).

Tickets for all shows are on sale via www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com or in person from Scarborough Open Air Theatre Box Office (01723 818111) and the Discover Yorkshire Coast Tourism Bureau (01723 383636).

Carlisle Racecourse has unveiled its sensational new restaurant and conference facilities ahead of the UK’s most historic race meeting.

The Jockey Club has invested a six-figure sum to transform Swifts Restaurant and The Patterson Suite – situated in the course’s main Grandstand – into a magnificent multi-use venue that provides an exclusive and unrivalled experience for guests.

Boasting a contemporary and stylish design, with all-new state-of-the-art multi-media facilities, the refurbishment has been completed ahead of this month’s famed Carlisle Bell and Cumberland Plate meeting.

The origins of this meeting, which is held on Wednesday June 26, can be traced back to 1599 and the days of Queen Elizabeth I.

And while Cumbria’s premier racecourse is steeped in history, its new facilities – which are available for weddings, private parties and conferences on non-race days – are unashamedly modern, bright and luxurious.

This VIP area has its own viewing balcony which allows racegoers to watch horses thunder down the home straight in front of the beautiful panoramic backdrop of rural Cumbria.

Molly Dingwall, Carlisle Racecourse’s General manager, said: “The new restaurant facilities are fabulous. We opened them for the first time to racegoers at our last meeting and the feedback we have received is fantastic.

“The fit-out is of the highest standard and we truly believe we have created something to wow both racegoers and those who use the facilities for conferences, business meetings, weddings and private parties.

“We offer a wonderful culinary experience here at the racecourse and, following these improvements to our facilities, we now have one of the best hospitality and conference spaces in Cumbria.

“There is a brilliant summer in prospect at the racecourse. We have our historic Bell and Plate meeting on June 26 – when some of racing’s top stars compete for the world’s oldest sporting trophy – followed by some hugely-popular social events.

“And it goes without saying, we cannot wait to show off our new restaurant facilities to racegoers.”

Carlisle-based Black Box Architects designed the all-new restaurant facilities and the refurbishment was carried out by Lambert Gill.

Racing returns to Carlisle with an evening meeting on Tuesday June 11 and afternoon racing on Monday June 17.

Following the Bell and Plate meeting – which includes Carlisle’s richest flat race The Eternal Stakes – there are two music events. Pop star Sigala takes to stage after racing on Saturday July 6 and then the annual Ladies Night, with a post-racing DJ set by TV star Gok Wan, on Monday August 5.

To find out more about hospitality and dining packages, conferences, weddings and events email carlisleevents@thejockeyclub.co.uk or call (01228) 554700.

Superstar rock trio Biffy Clyro will be joined at Scarborough Open Air Theatre by the incredible Ghostpoet.

Biffy play the UK’s largest open-air arena on Friday June 14 – their only mainland UK live date this summer. The show is an exclusive warm-up before the band embarks on a series of headline appearances across Europe, including the Isle of Wight Festival.

And they will be supported at Scarborough Open Air Theatre by Ghostpoet.

 Twice nominated for the coveted Mercury Music Prize, Ghostpoet (aka musician Obaro Ejimiwe) proudly sits outside a single style. He has united fans across genres since his sensational 2010 debut album Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam and 2013 follow-up Some Say I So I Say Light.

After receiving widespread recognition for the beat-driven arrangements of his first two albums, third LP Shedding Skin initiated a more alt-rock sound that saw Ghostpoet Mercury-nominated for a second time.

2017’s critically acclaimed Dark Days + Canapés, which includes the stunning single Immigrant Boogie, again served to increase this widely revered artist’s fanbase.

 Headliners Biffy Clyro have won no fewer than four NME Awards, four Kerrang Awards as well as being nominated for Best British Group at The BRITS twice.

They are no strangers to huge stages – headlining Reading and Leeds festivals last summer – and have played to massive sold-out crowds all over the world in the last decade.

They delighted fans last month with the release of their self-penned soundtrack for the Jamie Adams-directed movie Balance, Not Symmetry, which debuts at Edinburgh International Film Festival on June 23.

Tickets for Biffy Clyro and Ghostpoet at Scarborough Open Air Theatre show are on sale now via www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com or in person from Scarborough Open Air Theatre Box Office (01723 818111) and the Discover Yorkshire Coast Tourism Bureau (01723 383636).

Nina Nesbitt will join UK pop superstars Years & Years for their headline show at Scarborough Open Air Theatre.

The singer-songwriter, whose second album The Sun Will Come Up, The Seasons Will Change arrived to rave reviews earlier this year, will open for Years & Years at the stunning Yorkshire coast venue on Thursday July 18.

Nina’s pop and R&B-tinged sounds, blended with her own confessional songwriting, have been embraced by fans around the world.

Having toured with Lewis Capaldi, and with single Colder on both BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 playlists, the Scottish-born artist has just completed her own UK, US and Australian headline tours

Nina enjoyed huge success with her 2014 debut Peroxide. Still only 24-years-old, her follow-up album demonstrates a more mature sound that bears no hint of compromise and is brimming with wonderful lyrical observations and melodies.

Album highlights include the multi-layered, story-telling The Moments I’m Missing, the R&B tinged The Best You Had, which was embraced by Taylor Swift, Loyal To Me, Empire and Somebody Special which has had more than 30 million streams on Spotify alone.

It has been a whirlwind last few years for headliners Years & Years. The chart-topping electro-pop group’s 2015 debut smash hit album ‘Communion’ landed with the massive hit singles ‘King’, ‘Desire’ and ‘Shine’.

The band – fronted by Yorkshire-born Olly Alexander – followed it up with last year’s breath-taking ‘Palo Santo’ which spawned the singles ‘Sanctify’, Top 10 hit ‘If You’re Over Me’ and ‘All for You’. The album was a Top 3 hit in the UK and topped the Billboard Dance/Electronic Album Chart in the US.

Famed for their electrifying live shows, Years & Years are the reigning ‘GQ Live Act of The Year’ and have built a massive fanbase around the globe.

Emerging North London singer-songwriter Mae Muller will open the night having just reunited with producer Jimmy Napes (Sam Smith, Disclosure, Mary J Blige) to release her latest single Anticlimax.

Tickets are on sale now via www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com or in person from Scarborough Open Air Theatre Box Office (01723 818111) and the Discover Yorkshire Coast Tourism Bureau (01723 383636).

Biffy Clyro will bring their electrifying and explosive live show to the Yorkshire coast next month – the band’s only UK mainland live date this summer.

The superstar rock trio headline Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Friday June 14 for what is an exclusive warm-up show before the band embarks on a series of headline appearances at festivals across Europe including the Isle of Wight, Deichbrand, Lollapalooza and Indiependence.

Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday May 24 via www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com

Biffy Clyro are no strangers to huge stages – headlining Reading and Leeds festivals last summer – and have played to massive sold-out crowds all over the world in the last decade.

Their Scarborough OAT date is presented by Cuffe and Taylor. Director Peter Taylor said: “Biffy Clyro are one of the biggest rock bands in the world and we are delighted to be bringing them to Scarborough OAT for their only UK mainland live date this summer.

 “Over the last decade they’ve headlined some of the biggest music festivals. Fans have been asking us for some time to bring them to Scarborough and so we are delighted to today announce they’ll be here on Friday June 14.

 “This is quite simply going to be one of the best gigs ever to be staged at Scarborough OAT and we would advise fans to get their tickets now.”

 Biffy delighted fans last week with the release of their self-penned soundtrack for the Jamie Adams-directed movie Balance, Not Symmetry, which debuts at Edinburgh International Film Festival on June 23.

 This stunning 17-song album explodes into life with the title track, which tightly packages Biffy’s angular rhythms with the kind of sky-bound hook they’ve established as a hallmark of their sound.

The story of Biffy Clyro – Simon Neil (guitar/vocals), James Johnston (bass) and Ben Johnston (drums) – is as romantic as it is archetypal. Three childhood friends from Ayrshire formed a band, delivered three albums of abrasive youthful exuberance and finally cracked the big time when their fourth – 2007’s Puzzle – smashed into the UK Top 10.

By the time the promotion of their fifth album – 2009’s Only Revolutions which included the brilliant Bubbles, Mountains and Many of Horror – had ceased, they were bona fide stars who could deliver hit singles in an era in which rock bands rarely trouble the charts.

Platinum-selling Only Revolutions was followed by Opposites in 2013 and 2016’s Gold-selling  Ellipsis which both topped the UK album charts.

To date Biffy Clyro have won no fewer than four NME Awards, four Kerrang Awards as well as being nominated for Best British Group at The BRITS twice.

Tickets for Biffy Clyro at Scarborough Open Air Theatre show go on sale at 10am on Friday May 24 via www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com or in person from Scarborough Open Air Theatre Box Office (01723 818111) and the Discover Yorkshire Coast Tourism Bureau (01723 383636).

 Balance, Not Symmetry is available to download and stream now and will be released on vinyl on July 26, the same day as the movie is released in the UK.

Some of Lancashire’s hottest up-and-coming music talent will come together to launch this year’s Lytham Festival with a special BBC Music Introducing event.

The Festival celebrates its 10^th anniversary this summer with headline shows from Rod Stewart, Kylie Minogue, Stereophonics, The Human League and Hollywood Proms starring Michael Ball and Sheridan Smith.

Before the action kicks-off in the main arena on Lytham Green, the Festival – in association with BBC Music Introducing Lancashire – is hosting a night dedicated to emerging local talent.

Blanket, Jekyll, Pip Hall, Nana White Pepper and Emily Rhodes will take to the stage at Lytham’s Lowther Pavilion for a not-to-be-missed show on Monday July 8.

Tickets, priced just £10, go on sale at 9am on Friday May 17 from lythamfestival.com and lowtherpavilion.co.uk

Cinematic rock band BLANKET headline the night. The Blackpool-based four-piece – who released their debut album How To Let It Go through Sony’s Music For Nations label – have wowed critics and fans across the UK and Europe with their epic live sound.

Their enormous and ambient cinematic soundscapes have brought comparisons with Doves, Ride and Mogwai and a reputation as one of the UK underground’s fastest-rising bands.

Like Blanket, alt-rockers JEKYLL originally hailed from Blackpool and were signed by the prestigious indie label Fierce Panda (Coldplay, Ash, The Bluetones and The Polyphonic Spree) on the strength of their sensational live shows.

With festival appearances at The Great Escape, Liverpool Sound City, Tramlines and Threshold already under their belts, Jekyll’s growing fanbase includes BBC Radio One’s Huw Stephens who described them as “just brilliant” after their recent live session on his BBC Introducing show.

PIP HALL was labelled “the hottest unsigned artist in the country” in the national press and her wonderful debut album Everything Before – which features the brilliant My Eden, Mary and James – only serves to validate such a glowing appraisal.

Fusing understated dark-pop tracks, sepia synths and her gorgeous vocals, Preston-based Pip has recently returned from gigs in New York and the illustrious SXSW festival, Sound City and The Great Escape.

Explosive Blackpool four-piece NANA WHITE PEPPER unite wildly contrasting influences to create something wholly coherent – a punchy rock sound filled with unforgettable riffs and powerful vocals.

Since 2016 they’ve graduated from playing small local shows to historic venues such as Nambucca, The Deaf Institute, 93 Feet East and Manchester Academy, as well as providing support to bands as The Wholls, Strange Bones, The Movielife and Bang Romeo.

Teenage songwriter EMILY RHODES is no stranger to Lytham Festival and this will be her third performance at the event. A finalist at the prestigious ‘Busk in London’ competition, Kirkham-based Emily’s debut release Get Out of My Way was produced by Blanket frontman Bobby Pook.

Lytham Festival co-founder Peter Taylor said: “We are really proud that throughout the festival’s history we’ve given a platform to up-and-coming local talent.

 “This year is a really special one for the festival – our 10^th anniversary – and so we are delighted to be partnering with BBC Music Introducing Lancashire to add this not-to-be-missed event to what will be a sensational week.

“BBC Introducing has helped the careers of some of the biggest British music stars today, so to be able to launch this year’s festival with an event dedicated to up-and-coming local talent is something we’re really excited to be doing.”

Since its launch in 2007, BBC Music Introducing has been dedicated to discovering and supporting new music with all BBC regions celebrating local music talent.

The Lowther Pavilion event will be hosted by BBC Music Introducing Lancashire’s Sean McGinty.

Tickets, priced just £10, go on sale at 9am on Friday May 17 from www.lythamfestival.com and www.lowtherpavilion.co.uk

Singer, actress, Broadway royalty – and two-time Disney Princess – Lea Salonga is coming to Nottingham this summer as part of her first solo UK tour.

Lea created the role of Kim in the epic musical Miss Saigon in the West End and on Broadway and received critical acclaim as Eponine in Les Misérables.

And younger audiences will recognise her pitch perfect tones as the voices of Princess Jasmine in Aladdin and Fa Mulan in Mulan and Mulan II – earning her the official title of Disney Legend.

The Olivier and Tony Award-winning stage star will play York Barbican on Thursday, July 18 and tickets are on sale now from www.cuffeandtaylor.com

The exclusive UK tour was originally scheduled for just four dates in Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and the London Palladium, with York and Nottingham added due to popular demand. But Lea broke her leg while skiing earlier this year and rescheduled these shows for the summer.

Ahead of the UK concerts, Lea said: “After delaying my shows, I now cannot wait to get back to the UK for this tour. Miss Saigon in the West End gave me my international career, and I am very grateful to my fans there for supporting me all this time.

“I am so excited to be preparing for my first ever solo tour in the UK after all these years, and to be able to sing some of my favourite songs for you all.”

Philippines-born Lea Salonga was just 17 years old when she was discovered by the producers of Miss Saigon, and cast in the lead role of Kim. She originated the role in London and New York, and won the Olivier and Tony Awards for best actress in a musical for her work in the show.

She then went on to play Eponine and Fantine in Les Misérables on Broadway and in the musical’s 10^th and 25^th anniversary concerts in London.

Her most recent West End appearance was in 2014 as part of the 25^th anniversary celebrations for Miss Saigon at the Prince Edward Theatre.

Away from the stage, Lea is a judge on the Philippines’ version of The Voice, and has sold a staggering 19 million albums worldwide – making her one of the best-selling Filipina artists of all time. Her 2017 album Blurred Lines was followed by a sell-out run at New York’s renowned Feinstein’s / 54Below.

Having previously performed for the likes of The Queen, Diana, Princess of Wales and former US presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Lea boasts numerous accolades such as an Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World Awards, among others.

Don’t miss the musical sensation Lea Salonga in concert as The Original Miss Saigon Returns on her first ever solo headline UK tour this July.

LEA SALONGA IN CONCERT: THE ORIGINAL MISS SAIGON RETURNS TOUR DATES 2019

Sun July 7 – CARDIFF, Wales Millennium Centre

Weds July 10 – NOTTINGHAM, Royal Concert Hall

Thurs July 11 – BIRMINGHAM, Symphony Hall

Sat July 13 – MANCHESTER, Opera House

Thurs July 18 – YORK, Barbican

Sun July 21 – LONDON, Palladium (matinee and evening)

Visit www.cuffeandtaylor.com for tickets.

Event promoters Cuffe and Taylor are delighted to announce National Holidays as one of Scarborough Open Air Theatre’s official partners for 2019.

This is the seventh year running that the UK’s foremost specialists in short breaks and holidays by coach will be a leading sponsor at the Yorkshire coast venue.

More than 160,000 people have attended concerts at Scarborough OAT over the last two years, bringing a multi-million boost to the local tourism economy.

And National Holidays, which offers travel packages to concerts and festivals across the UK and Europe, will again be bringing music fans to the Yorkshire coast to enjoy what promises to be another sensational summer of live music at the UK’s largest open-air arena.

This year’s Scarborough OAT line-up includes headline shows from the likes of Kylie, Cliff Richard, Madness, Jess Glynne, Years and Years, West End Proms, Hacienda Classical and two shows from UK chart-topper Lewis Capaldi.

Martin Lock, Commercial Director of National Holidays, said: “National Holidays are delighted to be an official sponsor of the Scarborough Open Air Theatre for another season. Our Showtime breaks are going from strength to strength and the combination of this venue, with its superb selection of headline acts, and the delightful seaside town of Scarborough is proving to be a winning combination!”

Cuffe and Taylor, which is part of Live Nation (Music) UK, programme and promote all live music events at Scarborough OAT.

Director Peter Taylor said: “We are delighted to once again be working with National Holidays. This partnership, just like the venue itself, continues to go from strength to strength.

“We pride ourselves on creating a really varied programme of events that bring music fans from across the UK and beyond here to the Yorkshire coast.

“To do this we need trusted partners like National Holidays. They offer fantastic travel packages which enable music fans from all over the country to not only enjoy shows at Scarborough OAT, but also holiday in this stunning part of the UK.

“It is fantastic to once again welcome National Holidays on board as our official partners and we cannot wait for the season to start.”

Tickets are available for all events from Scarborough Open Air Theatre Box Office (01723 818111), online at www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com or by calling 0844 844 0444.

For more information about National Holidays visit www.nationalholidays.com or call 0844 477 8000.

The music of rock legends Queen is to be celebrated like never before as West End leading lady Kerry Ellis joins Scandinavian tribute stars Queen Machine for a fully orchestrated show at Scarborough Open Air Theatre.

Queen Machine Symphonic featuring Kerry Ellis will see Queen’s greatest hits performed by leading European tribute band Queen Machine accompanied by the London Symphonic Rock Orchestra and conducted by Matthew Freeman, creating an unforgettable night of rock anthems.

This stunning show – which embarks on a full UK Tour in 2020 – will make its world premiere at Scarborough OAT on Saturday August 31.

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, April 19 from www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com

Making their UK touring debut, Queen Machine are the go-to tribute band for the Official International Queen Fan Club and are one of the most popular bands in their native Denmark and neighbouring Scandinavian countries where they repeatedly sell out shows.

Joining them will be the UK’s leading lady of musical theatre Kerry Ellis, who originated the role of Meat, in Queen musical We Will Rock You. Since then, she’s forged a long-standing musical relationship and friendship with Queen guitarist Brian May, who describes the stage star as having “Britain’s most beautiful voice”. He produced her debut album Anthems, and they jointly released the follow up Golden Days in 2017, as well as extensively touring the UK and Europe together.

Conducting the tour will be Matthew Freeman, a platinum and gold disc award-winning conductor and arranger. He originally reworked the music of Queen for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2014 and conducted their Symphonic Queen concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in 2014 and 2017. The Symphonic Queen album was released in 2016.

Bjarke Baisner fronts Queen Machine, sounding and looking like a young Freddie Mercury, joined by Peter Møller Jeppesen on guitar, Henrik Østergaard on keys, Jens Lunde on bass and Paolo Romano Torquati on drums.

The Official International Queen Fan Club hails Queen Machine as: “Quite simply one of THE best Queen tribute bands we have ever had at any of our events – don’t miss them.”

Since forming in 2018, the London Symphonic Rock Orchestra have recorded for Sir Cliff Richard’s Rise Up album and performed live with the Trevor Horn Band on Trevor Horn Reimagines The 80s at the Southbank Centre.

The Scarborough Open Air Theatre show is presented by Cuffe and Taylor. Director Peter Taylor said: “For fans of the incredible music of Queen this promises to be a must-see show. Brian May describes Kerry Ellis’s voice as ‘perfect’, and she’s long been associated with her versions of Queen tracks.

 “Bringing together the London Symphonic Rock Orchestra with the powerhouse performances of Kerry and Queen Machine, to perform those iconic hits – We Will Rock You, Killer Queen, Somebody To Love, Barcelona and, of course, Bohemian Rhapsody – promises to create a truly sensational celebration of one of the most iconic bands in musical history.”

Queen Machine Symphonic featuring Kerry Ellis joins a superb line-up at Scarborough OAT this summer. Kylie, Jess Glynne, Hacienda Classical, Years & Years, West End Proms, Madness, Cliff Richard and two shows by Lewis Capaldi have already been confirmed with more acts still to be announced.

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, April 19, via www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com or in person from Scarborough Open Air Theatre Box Office (01723 818111) and the Discover Yorkshire Coast Tourism Bureau (01723 383636).

Celtic-folk and Americana band Johnny Mac and the Faithful will be the special guest act before Rod Stewart performs on his outdoor UK tour this summer.

The Glasgow-based band have been invited to perform at all 10 stadium shows for the Rod Stewart Live in Concert tour in May, June and July after attracting the attention of Rod.

Johnny Mac and the Faithful previously opened for Rod at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro in 2017 at a concert celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Celtic Football Club’s 1967 European Cup victory. A friendship was born from that and Rod invited frontman John McLaughlin to co-write the song Julia which appears on his latest number one album Blood Red Roses.

And this summer Johnny Mac and the Faithful will be the special guest act at the following shows:

Weds 22 May – Bristol, Ashton Gate Stadium

Fri 31 May – Southampton, St Mary’s Stadium

Sat 1 June – York, York Racecourse

Tues 4 June – Milton Keynes, Stadium MK

Fri 7 June – Ipswich, Portman Road Stadium

Sat 8 June – Wolverhampton, Molineux Stadium

Weds 12 June – Aberdeen, AECC

Fri 14 June – Bolton, University of Bolton Stadium

Sat 15 June – Sheffield, Bramall Lane Stadium

Fri 12 July – Brighton & Hove, The 1^st Central County Ground

Tickets are on sale now from www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Johnny Mac and the Faithful are a band of lifelong friends who can kickstart any party with their jamboree of celtic-folk and Americana.

Made up of John McLaughlin (lead vocalist), Gordy Goudie (lead guitar), Ryan Hassan (drums), Tam McKinley (bass), Gary McDowell (guitar), Terry Dourish (keys and accordion) and Lisa Petticrew (fiddle), the band are a tombola of musicians with Scottish and Irish roots. Like a raggle-taggle hoard of troubadours they roll from gig to gig, playing their own brand of uplifting, joyful 3-chord wonders, covering Irish folk classics such as Ewan MacColl’s Dirty Old Town and Steve Earle’s Galway Girl as well as a string of original songs including new single Took a train and You make my Monday morning feel like Saturday night.

Frontman John McLaughlin is an award-winning songwriter and producer who has penned hits for artists such as Westlife, Busted, Echo & The Bunnymen, Shane MacGowan and Sandi Thom.

John said: “Individually we have been blessed to have played and worked with some of greatest and infamous stars of our time from the Pogues iconic frontman Shane MacGowan, to the enigmatic Echo and the Bunnymen, Glasgow’s own sons the Simple Minds and Ireland’s finest stompers The Dubliners.

“Our proudest moment to date though, as a band, has to be supporting global rock icon Sir Rod Stewart at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro in 2017.  It was for Celtic Football Club’s concert to honour the 50th anniversary of their 1967 European Cup winning team The Lisbon Lions.”

Rod watched their performance at the Hydro show and realised they were the same band he’d heard blaring through the tannoy at Celtic on match days.

John added: “We couldn’t believe it… Rod Stewart the world-famous rock legend was digging our wee Celtic rock band… that was mind blowing!

“A few months after the Hydro gig Rod contacted me about doing a co-write for a song. Firstly, as a lifelong fan I was ecstatic. Me and my writing partner Dave Thomas had started a tune and Rod loved the melody and in a flash of inspiration Rod had written the lyrics for Julia which he then included on his no1 Album Blood Red Roses.

“As a songwriter I couldn’t have been prouder to have my name alongside Rod’s on his record, it truly was a dream come true. To get to work with your Rock’n’Roll hero…Wow, that really doesn’t happen so much, and then to discover what an absolute diamond of a guy he was that was a lovely bonus.

“Now we just can’t wait to get up on stage. To be on tour with Rod and play our music to hundreds of thousands of his fans makes us feel very proud, blessed and thankful.”