Rhodes Media Blogs

Youth choirs and musical theatre groups are being given the opportunity to perform with Broadway and West End leading lady Marisha Wallace on her debut UK tour.

They will sing two songs with the West End star including a rendition of This Is Me from the blockbuster movie The Greatest Showman.

Marisha said: “This is my first ever headline theatre tour and I’m incredibly excited to get the chance to sing the songs I adore to audiences across the UK.

“Whether they are songs from the stage, screen or my own material, there are a number in the set I know will sound amazing when sung with a choir.

“As I really want to make these shows unique and extra special, what better way to do that than to be joined on stage each night by a different local choir or musical theatre group?

“I started singing with my church choir at the age of five and so vocal groups have always played such an important part of my life.

“So, what are you waiting for guys? If you want to join me on stage, helping me sing the songs I love, then get in touch today. This tour is going to be a truly magical experience and it would be great if you could join me.”

Beginning at Sale’s Waterside (March 8), Marisha’s tour then heads to Newbury Corn Exchange (March 11), Horsham Capitol (March 13), Birmingham Hippodrome (March 14), Leeds City Varieties (March 16), Lichfield Garrick (March 17), Glasgow Glee Club (March 18) and the Arts Theatre in London’s West End (March 23). Tickets are on sale now via www.cuffeandtaylor.com

If your choir or musical theatre group would like to join Marisha on stage at one of these dates email casting@cuffeandtaylor.com for more details.

Marisha was born and raised in a small town in North Carolina. But the small town never held down her big city dreams. From glittering New York, her unbelievable talent has taken her around the world.

Inspired by the likes of the late, great Aretha Franklin, Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald, Marisha’s voice will pull you from your seat and to your feet. She effortlessly infuses jazz, gospel and R&B with a healthy dose of soul that will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted.

On Broadway, she starred in shows including Disney’s Aladdin, The Book of Mormon and Something Rotten and then here, in the UK, as Effie White in the stellar West End hit Dreamgirls.

Described by The New York Post as “a marvel”, Marisha’s spine-tingling rendition of ‘And I Am Telling You’ from Dreamgirls has quite simply to be seen and heard to be believed.

Last summer she starred alongside Will Smith in Disney’s big screen summer blockbuster Aladdin.

Together with her theatre success, this versatile talent has taken on the mainstream music world by performing at the Royal Albert Hall, The London Palladium and Cadogan Hall with such revered international artists as Seal, James Blunt and Gregory Porter.

Following her UK tour Marisha, who recently returned to her role of Becky in Waitress at London’s Adelphi Theatre, will play force-of-nature Motormouth Maybelle in the eagerly awaited West End return of Hairspray alongside Michael Ball.

York Festival has teamed up with Minster FM to celebrate the achievements of North Yorkshire’s most inspirational people.

Global icon Lionel Richie, pop superstars Westlife and British music legends Madness will headline next summer’s brand-new live music festival at York Sports Club between Friday June 19^th and Sunday June 21^st.

And organisers are delighted to announce York Festival will be the headline sponsor of Minster FM’s Local Hero Awards 2020.

The heart-warming annual awards – which are now in their 18^th year – honour local champions of all ages who go the extra mile to help their local communities.

Peter Taylor, director of York Festival organisers Cuffe and Taylor, said: “York is a brilliant city and we cannot wait to bring a brand-new three-day festival here in June.

“We are delighted to be supporting Minster FM’s Local Hero Awards. These wonderful awards celebrate and recognise the amazing work of local community champions and they are something we are proud to be involved with.”

The Local Hero Awards evening will be held at York Racecourse on Friday February 28^th and will be hosted by the Minster FM Breakfast Show presenters Ben Fry and Laura Castle.

Laura Harland, Minster FM’s Sponsorship, Promotions and Events Manager, added: “We are excited to welcome York Festival on board as the headline sponsors of our 18^th annual Local Hero Awards.

“The awards are always a brilliant and heart-warming evening that honour our local heroes. Nominations are already flooding in and we cannot wait for the big night on February 28.”

The 13 individual award categories are:

Child of Achievement Award

Neighbour Of The Year Award

Parent or Guardian Award

999 Emergency Services Award

Sporting Hero Award

Teacher Of The Year Award

Make a Community Difference Award

Best Boss Award

Volunteer Of The Year Award

Bravery Award

Charity Fundraiser Of The Year Award

Environmental Hero Award

Ultimate Local Hero Award

To nominate your local hero go to minsterfm.com/localhero

The closing date for nominations is Sunday January 26.

For more information and tickets for York Festival 2020 go to www.york-festival.com

York Festival is looking to help raise thousands of pounds for good causes by supporting and celebrating the historic city’s charity champions.

Global icon Lionel Richie, pop superstars Westlife and British music legends Madness will headline next summer’s brand-new live music festival staged at York Sports Club between Friday June 19^th and Sunday June 21^st.

And York Festival organisers – concert promoters Cuffe and Taylor – have today launched a search for a range of charity partners who will all benefit financially from the three-day festival.

So, if you are involved with a charity based in or around York get in touch now to find out how York Festival can help you!

Cuffe and Taylor director Peter Taylor said: “We are incredibly excited about York Festival. This is going to be three amazing days of live music in this wonderful and historic city – headlined by a host of global stars.

“We also want to help raise funds and exposure for local good causes. Over the last decade we have worked with a number of fantastic charity partners at our events right across the UK. Through these partnerships we have helped raise more than £100,000 and we are now looking for charities based in and around York who we can work with.

“York Festival is going to be something really special. What will make it extra special is if we can help good causes in the city.”

The three chosen charity partners will be able collect donations in the York Festival arena and will be promoted in the lead up to and throughout the festival weekend. To register your interest in becoming a charity partner please email hello@york-festival.com

Cuffe and Taylor famously brought Britney Spears’ headline show to Scarborough Open Air Theatre in 2018 and staged Rod Stewart’s massive 2019 sell-out gig at York Racecourse.

They also set up Lytham Festival in Lancashire which has worked with a number of charities over the past decade. They include Blackpool-based Trinity Hospice and Brian House Children’s Hospice which has benefited to the tune of £50,000 through the relationship.

Trinity Hospice Community fundraising manager Michelle Lonican said: “We feel very honoured to have worked with Cuffe and Taylor on a number of their high-profile events. Their support for both Trinity Hospice and Brian House has been phenomenal, and not only have we been able to raise thousands of pounds, every event has always been a fantastic opportunity for us to increase our profile and attract new supporters.

“It is great to see Cuffe and Taylor launching a new festival in York and we would urge charities there to apply to become a partner and get involved in what will no doubt be a very successful event.”

York Festival has a stellar line-up in its debut year.

Opening night headliners Madness, who have chalked up no fewer than 15 UK Top 10 singles and seven Top 10 albums, will be joined by indie chart-toppers Lightning Seeds, Craig Charles with his famous Funk and Soul Club DJ set together with Leeds indie rockers Apollo Junction and York’s very own Violet Contours.

Westlife headline on the Saturday night as part of their UK-wide Stadiums in the Summer Tour. The UK’s top selling album group of the 21^st century will perform classic hits such as Swear It Again, Flying Without Wings and You Raise Me Up together with new songs from their forthcoming album Spectrum.

Joining Westlife on the night will be superstar pop group All Saints, Brit singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis Bextor, indie rock band Scouting for Girls and Take That’s Howard Donald, who will be spinning the discs for a very special DJ set.

Sunday night headliner is none other than international superstar Lionel Richie. The four-time Grammy Award-winner will perform a hit-packed concert that covers his extensive and much-loved repertoire – from his hit-making days with the Commodores right up to the present day.

For more information and tickets go to www.york-festival.com

Supergrass are back – and they are heading to Scarborough Open Air Theatre in Summer 2020.

The BRIT, Q, NME and Ivor Novello award-winning band reformed earlier this year and will play the UK’s largest open air arena on Saturday June 20.

Tickets go on sale via www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com  at 9am on Friday December 20.

Supergrass declared their improbable comeback in September in a suitably bold manner, taking to the stage unannounced at Glastonbury Pilton Party to rip through a mesmerizing greatest hits’ set, including Richard III, Moving, Alright, Caught By The Fuzz and more.

 They followed this with the announcement that a career spanning Best Of package ‘Supergrass: The Strange Ones 1994-2008’ will be released in January followed by a massive UK Tour in 2020.

Drummer Danny Goffey says: “Everything aligned for us to make this happen for 2020. It was the first time that we collectively felt the buzz to get back in a room together and play the songs. We’re extremely excited to get out there and bring a bit of Supergrass joy to all our fans… and their extended families.”

Supergrass are Goffey, Gaz Coombes, Mick Quinn and Rob Coombes. Formed in Oxford UK in 1993, this seminal British group released their Mercury-nominated No.1 debut album I Should Coco in 1995. Fourth single, Alright, was a pop masterpiece and became a massive hit, catapulting the band to global success.

Supergrass subsequently released another five acclaimed studio albums In It For The Money (1997), Supergrass (1999), Life On Other Planets (2002), Road To Rouen (2005), Diamond Hoo Ha (2008) as well as Top 5 Best Of Supergrass Is 10 (2004).

Other top 20 singles include Lenny, Going Out, Richard III, Sun Hits The Sky, Pumping On Your Stereo, Moving and Grace. They scored an unbroken run of five Top 10 albums, among them three platinum sellers generating millions of worldwide sales spawning ten Top 20 singles and scored the biggest-selling debut for Parlophone since The Beatles.

Supergrass split in 2010, though the band members have gone on to lead successful solo careers. Gaz Coombes released solo albums Here Come The Bombs in 2012, Matador, 2015 and World’s Strongest Man, 2018. Mick Quinn has been playing with his own group, DB Band, and has been a member of Swervedriver since 2015. Danny Goffey released solo material including album Schtick in 2018.

‘Supergrass: The Strange Ones 1994-2008’ – a comprehensive box set marking the 25^th anniversary of I Should Coco – is a celebration of the band’s incredible career and is released on BMG on January 24. It contains their 6 original albums on picture disc LP and CD, bonus CDs of unreleased live material, B-sides, remixes, rarities, studio out-takes, demos, acoustic versions, oddities, new mixes, a deluxe book, posters and button badges.

Tickets for Supergrass at Scarborough Open Air Theatre go on general sale at 9am on Friday, December 20 via www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com
They can also be purchased, in person, from Scarborough Open Air Theatre Box Office (01723 818111) and the Discover Yorkshire Coast Tourism Bureau (01723 383636).

Music icon Lionel Richie is returning to the Yorkshire coast next summer for a not-to-be-missed headline show at the UK’s largest open air arena.

The global superstar is today delighted to reveal he will bring his stunning live show to Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Tuesday June 9.

Tickets go on sale via www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com  at 9am on Wednesday December 18^th.

This will be the second time Lionel has headlined Scarborough Open Air Theatre following his sold-out show at the Yorkshire coast venue in 2018.

Lionel said: “It was a truly wonderful night on the Yorkshire coast in 2018 and I cannot wait to return to this beautiful part of the UK again. It’s going to be another night to remember – so bring you’re dancing shoes!”

Performing hits from his extensive and much-loved repertoire, all the way from his days with the Commodores to the present day, Lionel’s shows are world renowned for their party atmosphere.

Fans will be able to enjoy timeless mega-hits and sing along to classics such as Three Times A Lady, Truly, Dancing on the Ceiling, Say You Say Me, Hello and All Night Long.

Lionel Richie has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide and is also the proud recipient of an Oscar®, a Golden Globe® and four Grammy Awards®. He recently received the Ivor Novello PRS for Music Special International Award.

His All the Hits, All Night Long tour sold out arenas worldwide with a set list of his brightest and best anthems. In recent years, he also headlined festivals including Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, and Glastonbury, drawing the festival’s biggest crowd ever with more than 200,000 attendees.

This past summer, he took fans on a spectacular musical journey with his new album – Live from Las Vegas – which hit top spot on the Billboard Artist 100 chart.

His Scarborough Open Air Theatre show is presented by Cuffe and Taylor. Director Peter Taylor said: “Lionel Richie is an undoubted global superstar and we are delighted to be able to bring him back here to Scarborough Open Air Theatre.

“His 2018 sold-out Scarborough OAT show was the stuff of legend. It was a brilliant night in the presence of one of the most successful and celebrated music artists of all time.

“This is going to be another amazing night and I would advise fans not to hang around in getting their tickets.”

Tickets for Lionel Richie at Scarborough Open Air Theatre go on general sale at 9am on Wednesday, December 18^th via www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com

They can also be purchased, in person, from Scarborough Open Air Theatre Box Office (01723 818111) and the Discover Yorkshire Coast Tourism Bureau (01723 383636).

Indie-rock giants Snow Patrol are heading to the Yorkshire coast next summer for what promises to be a sensational night at Scarborough Open Air Theatre.

The band behind such anthems as Chasing Cars, Run, You’re All I Have, Signal Fire, Called Out in the Dark and Take Back the City will bring their sensational live show to Britain’s largest open-air arena on Saturday July 4.

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday November 29 via www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com

Over a 25-year career, Snow Patrol have carved out a unique place for themselves.

Since releasing their debut album, Songs for Polarbears, the band have racked up an impressive array of critical and commercial accolades, including more than 17 million global album sales, one billion-plus global track streams, five UK Platinum-selling albums, an Ivor Novello award and Grammy and Mercury Music Prize nominations.

The band — guitarist/vocalist Gary Lightbody, guitarists Johnny McDaid and Nathan Connolly, bassist Paul Wilson and drummer Jonny Quinn — broke into the mainstream in 2003 with their stunning album Final Straw, featuring Top 5 hit Run.

2006’s Eyes Open saw them truly propelled to a global audience as massive hit single Chasing Cars went on to become UK radio’s most played song of the 21st century.

After taking some time out, Snow Patrol returned in 2018 with the brilliant Wildness – their first studio album in seven years. The band followed up its huge success with a sensational live tour which included a homecoming gig in front of 35,000 fans in Bangor, Northern Ireland.

Snow Patrol’s Scarborough date is presented by Cuffe and Taylor. Director Peter Taylor said: “Snow Patrol are not only one of the biggest-selling UK bands of the last 20 years, but they are also one of the most critically acclaimed live acts. We are delighted to be bringing them to Scarborough Open Air Theatre for summer 2020.

“They are behind some of the best-loved indie rock anthems and these special songs are going to sound amazing at this unique venue. I have absolutely no doubts this is going to be an incredible night.”

Tickets for Snow Patrol at Scarborough Open Air Theatre go on general sale at 9am on Friday, November 29 via www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com
They can also be purchased, in person, from Scarborough Open Air Theatre Box Office (01723 818111) and the Discover Yorkshire Coast Tourism Bureau (01723 383636).

Global icon Lionel Richie, pop superstars Westlife and British music legends Madness will headline the first ever York Festival.

The three-day music festival will be held at York Sports Club between Friday June 19^th and Sunday June 21^st 2020.

Three-day passes – giving festival-goers access to all nights – are on sale now from www.york-festival.com

Tickets for each night go on sale at 9am Thursday November 28

Opening night headliners Madness, who have chalked up no fewer than 15 UK Top 10 singles and seven Top 10 albums, will be joined by indie chart-toppers Lightning Seeds, Craig Charles with his famous Funk and Soul Club DJ set together with Leeds indie rockers Apollo Junction and York’s very own Violet Contours.

Westlife headline on the Saturday night as part of their UK-wide Stadiums in the Summer Tour. The UK’s top selling album group of the 21^st century will perform classic hits such as Swear It Again, Flying Without Wings and You Raise Me Up together with new songs from their forthcoming album Spectrum.

Joining Westlife on the night will be superstar pop group All Saints, Brit singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis Bextor, indie rock band Scouting for Girls and Take That’s Howard Donald, who will be spinning the discs for a very special DJ set.

Sunday night headliner is none other than international superstar Lionel Richie. The four-time Grammy Award-winner will perform a hit-packed concert that covers his extensive and much-loved repertoire – from his hit-making days with the Commodores right up to the present day.

York Festival is presented by promoters Cuffe and Taylor who famously brought Britney Spears’ headline show to Scarborough Open Air Theatre in 2018 and staged Rod Stewart’s massive 2019 sell-out gig at York Racecourse.

Director Peter Taylor said: “This is the very first York Festival so we wanted to make this a very special debut year.

“To have Lionel Richie, Westlife and Madness as headliners – alongside many other brilliant chart-topping artists – is a real coup. We feel this is the perfect line-up for the first year of what we hope will become a major annual event in this wonderful and historic city.

“We cannot wait for Friday June 19^th and opening night. This really is going to be a weekend to remember!”

York Festival will be staged at York Sports Club, situated at Clifton Park – the home of York RUFC, York Cricket Club, York Tennis Club and York Squash Club.

Nigel Durham, Trustee of York Sports Club and Chairman of York Cricket Club, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the first York Festival – a major new event for the city of York.

“An historic city the size and stature of ours truly deserves a high-profile music festival like this. And to be attracting such massive stars as Lionel Richie, Westlife and Madness is just brilliant.

“And with the festival being staged in the heart of the city, right here at York Sports Club, this really will capture the imagination and be a great thing for the city, residents, local businesses and visitors.”

Cuffe and Taylor are working closely with City of York Council and Make It York, which showcases and promotes the city around the world.

Welcoming the York Festival line-up, Sean Bullick, managing director of Make It York, said: “York Festival will be a brilliant addition to the city’s already busy calendar of summer events for both residents and visitors to enjoy. Welcoming such music legends and chart-topping artists, as well
as showcasing local talent, is another step forward for York’s cultural offer and we are delighted to help spread the word to audiences.”

Three-day day Passes for York Festival are on sale now priced from £129 and are available from www.york-festival.com

Individual tickets priced from £39.50 will go on sale at 9am Thursday November 28.

A range of exclusive VIP offers are also available.

For more information go to www.york-festival.com

Pop superstars Little Mix are taking their unmissable live show on the road next year with their 21-date Summer 2020 tour.

The world’s biggest girl band will perform to fans across England, Scotland and Wales including a show at Southampton’s Ageas Bowl on Thursday July 2.

Tickets go on sale at 9am Thursday November 28 from www.cuffeandtaylor.com and www.livenation.co.uk

The tour will see Little Mix perform some of their greatest hits including ‘Woman Like Me’, ‘Touch’, ‘Shout Out to My Ex’, ‘Black Magic’ and ‘Wings’.

Summer 2020 tour dates are:

JUNE

Fri 26 – Falkirk, The Falkirk Stadium

Sat 27 – St Helens, R.F.C Stadium

Sun 28 – Cardiff, Cardiff City Stadium

Tues 30 – Peterborough, The Weston Homes Stadium

JULY

Thurs 02 – Southampton, The Ageas Bowl

Fri 03 – Plymouth, Home Park Stadium

Sat 04 – London, American Express presents BST Hyde Park

Sun 05 – Lancashire, Lytham Festival

Thurs 09 – Gloucester, Kingsholm Stadium

Fri 10 – Colchester, JobServe Community Stadium

Sat 11 – Colwyn Bay, Stadiwm Zip World

Sun 12 – Hull, Hull College Craven Park Stadium

Tues 14 – Ardingly, South of England Event Centre

Thurs 16 – Durham, Emirates Riverside

Fri 17 – Leicester, Fischer County Ground

Sat 18 – Norfolk, Holkham Hall

Sun 19 – Canterbury, The Spitfire Ground

Tues 21 – Scarborough, Open Air Theatre

Fri 24 – Carlisle, Bitts Park

Sat 25 – Ayr, Ayr Racecourse

Sun 26 – Aberdeen, Hazlehead Park

Speaking about the Summer 2020 Tour, the group said: “Performing live is our favourite thing to do as a band, we love it.

“Our last Summer tour in 2018 was one of our favourites ever, so we can’t wait for some more brilliant outdoor shows next year. We want everyone to come party with us in the sunshine!”

Speaking about the Summer 2020 tour coming to The Ageas Bowl, CEO David Mann said: “We are delighted to host world-class group Little Mix at the Ageas Bowl again next summer following on from their excellent show here in 2017.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming their fans to the venue again for what promises to be another fantastic show.”

Little Mix have firmly established their reputation as one of the most phenomenal groups    around. Alongside massive tours of Europe, Australia, Japan and the US, the group have just completed their mammoth LM5 Arena Tour which took in cities across Europe, the UK and Ireland including an amazing five sold out dates at London’s O2 Arena.

Since 2011, Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall have not only established themselves as one of British pop’s brightest acts, but as a global pop phenomenon.

They have fully cemented their status as the world’s biggest girl band, with the quartet asserting dominance in the charts album after album.

They have sold more than 50 million records worldwide, collected more than 17 million Spotify listeners, received more than 3 billion Youtube views, and collated 12 billion streams worldwide. Record sales have seen them notch up a total of four UK No.1 singles, four platinum-selling albums and nine platinum selling singles, surpassing a record previously held by the Spice Girls. Their 2016 album ‘Glory Days’ was the biggest selling album by a female group this millennium in the UK, alongside being named the longest-reigning Top 40 album for a girl group ever.

Tickets go on sale at 9am Thursday November 28 from www.cuffeandtaylor.com and www.livenation.co.uk

At least 75p from every ticket sale will be donated to Nordoff Robbins* – a charity that uses the power of music therapy to enrich the lives of people affected by life limiting illness, isolation or disability.

Global icon Lionel Richie, international chart-topper Lewis Capaldi, pop superstars Westlife, indie giants Snow Patrol are among the headliners for Lytham Festival 2020.

This stellar line-up is today announced as Lancashire’s biggest music festival prepares for another sell-out year.

The 11th annual Lytham Festival will take place on Lytham Green from Wednesday 01 to Sunday 05 July.

And as four of the five headliners are revealed, five-day passes giving festival-goers access to all nights on Lytham Green are on sale now from www.lythamfestival.com

Individual tickets to each night will go on sale at 8am Thursday November 28.

Opening Lytham Festival 2020 on Wednesday July 1 will be a headlining show from Irish pop superstars Westlife as part of their UK wide Stadiums in the Summer Tour. Hailed as the UK’s top selling album group of the 21^st Century, the Lytham Festival show will see the global pop kings perform all of their greatest hits including Swear It Again, Flying Without Wings and You Raise Me Up as well as sensational up-tempo new songs from their forthcoming new album Spectrum.

Thursday July 2 will see rapidly rising international star Lewis Capaldi headline the Main Proms Arena. It’s been a meteoric rise to success for the Scottish singer-songwriter who is currently enjoying huge adoration on both sides of the Atlantic and has just been nominated for a Grammy Award for his hit Someone You Loved.

Indie rockers Snow Patrol are the Friday night headliners. With a 25-year career they have racked up an impressive number of accolades including more than 17 million global album sales and an Ivor Novello award. Their 2006 monster hit single Chasing Cars went on to become UK radio’s most played song of the 21^st Century.

Saturday night will see international superstar Lionel Richie headline as he will perform hits from his extensive and much-loved repertoire spanning decades, all the way from the Commodores to the present day. His music is part of the fabric of pop music and Richie has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide and is an Oscar, Golden Globe, and four-time Grammy Awards winner.

Lytham Festival will close on Sunday July 5 with the headlining artist being announced at 8am tomorrow.

Details of all support artists will be revealed soon.

Festival director Peter Taylor is delighted with the line-up.

“2020 is shaping to be yet another massive year for Lytham Festival,” said Peter.

“We had an incredible line-up for 2019 as we celebrated our 10-year anniversary so our mission was to make 2020 even bigger and better, and we believe the festival we have planned will do just that.

“To have Lionel Richie and Westlife on the same bill as Lewis Capaldi and Snow Patrol is incredibly exciting and really does make this our biggest ever line-up.

“There will be tens of thousands of people descending on Lytham for the five days of the festival and we can’t wait to welcome them for what will be five truly spectacular nights of live music.”

Five day Passes for Lytham Festival are on sale now priced from £199 and are available from www.lythamfestival.com

Individual tickets priced from £35 will go on sale at 8am Thursday November 28.

A range of exclusive VIP offers are also available.

For more information go to www.lythamfestival.com

As Lytham Festival enters a new decade, it has already announced a brand-new Lytham Proms concert for 2020.

The traditional picnic proms, which was ordinarily held as part of Lytham Festival, will now take place at historic Lytham Hall on Saturday August 29 with all money raised being gifted to the continued restoration of the Grade 1 Georgian mansion.

Scarborough Open Air Theatre’s hugely popular 80s and 90s night is back for 2020 – headlined by some of Yorkshire’s biggest pop stars of the era.

Marc Almond, Heaven 17 and Living In A Box, featuring Kenny Thomas, will lead the Mixtape line-up on Friday July 10.

Tickets go on sale at 9am this Friday via www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com

Peter Taylor, director of venue programmers Cuffe and Taylor, said: “We are delighted to announce Mixtape – the much-requested return of an 80s and 90s night to Scarborough Open Air Theatre.

“Previous shows have always been a big party night and, since the last 80s and 90s night here in 2017, we’ve been repeatedly asked for another one. We’ve listened, and Mixtape is here for summer 2020!

“Marc Almond, Heaven 17 and Living In A Box are not only three great artists with a string of major hits between them, but they all have such a strong local connection. We feel sure this will be another great night on the stunning Yorkshire coast.”

Internationally acclaimed artist Marc Almond has sold more than 30 million records worldwide and is an icon and influence to a generation of musicians.

Lancashire-born, but Yorkshire raised, it was as frontman of seminal 80s electronic duo Soft Cell that he first gained international acclaim with such massive hits as Tainted Love, Bedsitter, Torch, What and Say Hello Wave Goodbye before embarking on a diverse and hugely successful solo career.

Marc’s later work – including his 2017 album Shadows and Reflections and A Lovely Life To Live, his 2018 collaboration with Jools Holland – has been rapturously received by both fans and critics alike.

He was awarded an OBE for services to music and the arts, an Ivor Novello Inspiration Award, an Icon Award by Attitude Magazine and a Mojo Magazine Inspiration Award. He was also awarded an Honorary Fellowship of Leeds College of Music.

Marc will be joined at Scarborough by Heaven 17 who will be celebrating their 40^th anniversary in 2020.

Born out of the split of the original Human League, the Sheffield new wave band – led by Glenn Gregory and Martyn Ware – shot to fame with synth-driven hits Temptation, Come Live With Me and Crushed by the Wheels of Industry together with such hugely acclaimed albums Penthouse and Pavement and The Luxury Gap.

Fellow Sheffield band Living In A Box exploded onto MTV in 1987 with a song named after themselves. Further Top 40 hits followed including Scales of Justice, So The Story Goes, Blow The House Down and Room In Your Heart.

They have now joined forces with double platinum-selling and double Brit Award nominee Kenny Thomas who burst into the UK charts in the early 1990s with Top 20 hits Outstanding, Thinking About Your Love and Best Of You.

A spectacular modern soul vocalist, Kenny has performed across the globe with the likes of Bobby Womack, Lisa Stansfield, Shalamar and Alexander O’Neal. He has now taken over the lead vocals as a permanent member of Living In A Box.

Tickets for Mixtape go on general sale at 9am on Friday, November 22 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).