Rhodes Media Blogs

Lancashire boxer Brian ‘The Lion’ Rose reckons he is in the best shape of his life as he gets ready to return to the ring.

The Fylde coast middleweight’s comeback continues on Friday night as he meets Belgium’s James Hagenimana at Olympia in Liverpool.

It is Brian’s second fight back since announcing his return to boxing and comes after months of intensive training both here and in the USA.

Brian – who is sponsored by Fleetwood Town, together with club sponsors BES Utilities and Card Saver – said: “I can’t wait to get back in the ring.

“I feel really sharp – the best shape of my life – and I’m looking to put on a really good performance in Liverpool.

“I’ll be honest, I was sluggish and ring-rusty in my first fight back against Alistair Warren. However, all the hard work I’ve put in over the last few months, both here and in the Sattes, can only stand me in really good stead.”

Brian and coach Bobby Rimmer spent two months in California where they worked with former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson.

Renowned strength coach Paul Herrera and nutritionist Eric Huerta were also brought into the camp and their expertise is set to pay dividends.

Brian, the former British Super Welterweight champion, explained: “I’ve been working with some great nutritionists and strength and conditioning coaches and their help has been invaluable.

“I’m going into Friday’s fight at 11st 6lbs which is more than half a stone lighter than the Warren fight.

“Going over to the States has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my career, and I’ll definitely be going back.”

Although Brian is fully focused on Friday’s Hagenimana fight, which is on the undercard of the James “Jazza” Dickens v Nasibu Ramadhan Commonwealth title eliminator, there is now talk of a possible all-Lancashire fight with rising middleweight Scott Fitzgerald.

Brian added: “With Scott being from Preston and me based on the Fylde coast it would be a great fight for Lancashire – a real Red Rose derby!

“I know a lot of people would love to see that fight and I’ll be honest, it’s one I’d love to see happen. But before anyone gets carried away, I’m fully focussed on Friday night and James Hagenimana.

“I’ve come back to fight for titles, and thanks to the support from all at Fleetwood Town, I can give this my best shot. But you have to earn that right to challenge for titles and that’s why I’m not looking any further ahead than this fight.

“As I said, I’m feeling great, really ready for this. It’s time to show people that there is still plenty left in the tank and that The Lion is a credible title challenger.”

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.”

Charities across the North West will benefit from Lancashire’s biggest music festival this summer.

Lytham Festival is celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year and up to 100,000 people are expected to visit the annual musical extravaganza from Wednesday July 10 to Sunday July 14.

And five charities from across the region will be represented at each of the festival’s headline concerts in the Main Proms Arena on Lytham Green when volunteers will be collecting donations.

The chosen charities for a second-year running are North West Air Ambulance, Brian House Children’s Hospice, Fylde Coast Women’s Aid, Blackpool Carers and Blue Skies Hospitals fund.

Lytham Festival director Peter Taylor said: “We are delighted to be welcoming these five charities back to Lytham Festival for our significant birthday celebrations.

“The charities and their armies of volunteers did a sterling job last year and we look forward to their return. Previously we invited applications for charity partners each year, but we took the decision last year that our partners would be able to work with us for a two-year period before we opened applications again.

“All of these charities do a fantastic job for our communities and are there for everyone so we would encourage our festival-goers to donate to them where possible.”

Charity volunteers will be evident throughout the Main Proms Arena on Lytham Green for each headline event.

Fylde Coast Women’s Aid will be the charity partner for The Human League on Wednesday July 10, Blue Skies for Stereophonics on Thursday 11, Blackpool Carers for Kylie Minogue on Friday 12, Brian House for Rod Stewart on Saturday 13 and North West Air Ambulance for Hollywood Proms with Michael Ball and Sheridan Smith on Sunday 14.

Last year the charities raised £12,000 thanks to donations from festival-goers.

Tina Hibbard, Senior Service Manager for Fylde Coast Women’s Aid, said: “Fylde Coast Women’s Aid had a blast at Lytham Festival last year and is over the moon to be coming back to do it all again this year.  It is a fantastic opportunity for FCWA to raise money and awareness. We can’t wait to shake our buckets on Lytham Green!”

Kila Redfearn, Head of Fundraising for Blue Skies Hospitals fund, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as one of the charity partners for Lytham Festival for the second year running.  With the help of the customers at Lytham Festival, we can raise much needed funds, that will enhance patient care in hospitals in Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Cuffe & Taylor for their continued support and wish them much success in this, their 10^th anniversary year.”

Head of Business Development and Funding at Blackpool Carers, Terry Hodkinson, said: “We at Blackpool Carers Centre are absolutely thrilled to be a charity partner at Lytham Festival again.  This helps to raise awareness for the 1 in 8 adults and 1 in 5 young carers out there who carry out a caring role to their loved ones every day.  Thank you for helping us to make a better life for carers.”

Michelle Lonican, Community and Corporate Team Leader for Brian House, said: “Once again Brian House is absolutely honoured to have been chosen as a charity partner for the ever-popular Lytham Festival.

“We are extremely excited to welcome back our friend Rod Stewart and can’t wait to see him back in action on the Fylde coast.”

Laura Irving, Head of Community Corporate and Events at North West Air Ambulance Charity, said “We are delighted to be working with Lytham Festival for the second year running. The North West Air Ambulance Charity is completely reliant on public donations so all money received will help to keep our helicopters and crew operational, which means we can continue to offer enhanced medical care and help to save more lives across the North West.”

Details of how to apply to be a Lytham Festival charity partner for 2020 will be released after this year’s event.

For more information about Lytham Festival 2019 go to www.lythamfestival.com

Coronation Street star Daniel Brocklebank – winner of ITV’s All Star Musicals – will join the cast of West End Proms at Scarborough Open Air Theatre this summer.

West End Proms will be a breath-taking evening featuring songs from seven decades of musical theatre – including songs from such smash hit shows as Les Misérables, Phantom Of The Opera, The Greatest Showman, Rock Of Ages, Wicked, Sunset Boulevard and many more.

This sensational show comes to Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Friday July 5. Tickets are on sale now via www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com

Daniel Brocklebank’s spectacular appearance on last month’s ITV’s All Star Musicals –  which saw him perform the song From Now On from The Greatest Showman –  was hailed as “outstanding”. The actor blew the judges and TV viewers away with his beautiful rendition.

Daniel, who plays vicar Billy Mayhew in Coronation Street, said: “I absolutely love performing and I am so excited to make my first stage appearance with West End Proms. Winning All Star Musicals was a dream come true; I now can’t wait to sing live once again, on stage with this wonderful cast.”

 Daniel joins a top cast of stars for West End Proms, including John Owen-Jones (Les Mis), Ben Forster (ITV’s Superstar), Rachel John and Jon Robyns (Hamilton), Jodie Steele and Jamie Muscato (Heathers), Lauren Samuels (BBC’s Over the Rainbow), and Marisha Wallace (Dreamgirls).

West End Proms – which debuts at Greenwich Music Time on Thursday July 4^th before heading to Scarborough Open Air Theatre the following night – is curated and presented by live music promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

 Director Peter Taylor said: “This is the first time we’re bringing West End Proms to London and Scarborough and it’s going to be an incredible evening. This is more than a concert; it’s a show worthy of the West End and Broadway. We’ve brought together some of the world’s most beautiful voices complete with a stunning live orchestra. It will be an extraordinary night.”

 Scarborough Open Air Theatre, situated on Yorkshire’s beautiful east coast, is the UK’s largest, purpose-built, open-air concert arena. West End Proms is part of a stellar 2019 line-up at the venue which includes headline shows from Kylie, Cliff Richard, Madness, Years & Years, Hacienda Classical, Jess Glynne and Lewis Capaldi.

Some of the world’s most talented musical theatre stars, from Broadway and the West End, will unite this summer as part of West End Proms – an evening of beautiful live music, complete with a stunning 32-piece orchestra.

Shows are confirmed for London’s Greenwich Music Time on Thurs 4 July and Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Fri 5 July. Tickets go on sale at 9am this Fri 29 March from www.cuffeandtaylor.com

West End Proms will present a breath-taking evening of live music from the past seven decades of popular musical theatre. This immaculately performed and vividly compelling show will include songs from Les Misérables, Phantom Of The Opera, The Greatest Showman, Rock Of Ages, Wicked, Sunset Boulevard, Dear Evan Hansen and many more.

West End Proms boasts a top cast, including the award-winning John Owen-Jones (Les Mis), Ben Forster, winner of ITV’s Superstar (2012), plus Rachel John and Jon Robyns, stars of West End show of the moment Hamilton. Jodie Steele and Jamie Muscato, two of the leading actors from the show Heathers, plus Lauren Samuels, who rose to prominence as a finalist on the BBC’s Over the Rainbow, and Marisha Wallace, leading lady of Dreamgirls and Waitress are also confirmed.

The show will make its debut at London’s Greenwich Music Time on Thurs 4 July, before travelling to Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Fri 5 July.

West End Proms is curated and presented by live music promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

Director Peter Taylor said: “This is the first time we’re bringing West End Proms to London and Scarborough and it’s going to be an incredible evening. This is more than a concert; it’s a show worthy of the West End and Broadway. We’ve brought together some of the world’s most beautiful voices complete with a stunning live orchestra. It will be an extraordinary night.”

 London’s Greenwich Music Time series of concerts, which will take place 1-7 July 2019, are set against the city’s most impressive backdrop. Framed by the pillars of the stunning Old Royal Naval College, the Thames and the London skyline are viewable against the stage to complete the ultimate concert experience in the capital. Cliff Richard, Paul Weller and Groove Armada are among the names already confirmed for this year’s bill.

Scarborough Open Air Theatre, situated on Yorkshire’s beautiful east coast, is the UK’s largest, purpose-built, open-air concert arena. West End Proms is part of a stellar 2019 line-up at the venue which includes headline shows from Kylie, Cliff Richard, Madness, Years & Years, Hacienda Classical, Jess Glynne and Lewis Capaldi.

WEST END PROMS – FULL LINE UP:

Ben Forster (ITV Superstar / Phantom Of The Opera)

Jamie Muscato (Heathers / (Les Misérables )

Jodie Steele (Heathers / Wicked)

John Owen-Jones ((Les Misérables  / Phantom Of The Opera)

Jon Robyns (Hamilton / Miss Saigon)

Lauren Samuels (We Will Rock You / Bend It Like Beckham)

Marisha Wallace (Waitress / Dreamgirls)

Rachel John (Hamilton / The Bodyguard)

Tickets for West End Proms go on sale at 9am on Fri 29 March from www.cuffeandtaylor.com

The Mersey Beatles 2019 World Tour – a sensational 50th anniversary celebration of the Fab Four’s legendary Abbey Road album – is coming to UK.

In a show that is already wowing sell-out audiences across the globe, the world-renowned Liverpool-born Beatles tribute band will play the classic 1969 album in full – followed by a spectacular set of John, Paul, George and Ringo’s greatest hits.

This not to be missed UK Tour hits Middlesbrough (Theatre), Rhyl (Pavilion), Blackburn (King George’s Hall), Barry (Memo Arts Centre), Yeovil (Westlands), Aberdeen (Beach Ballroom), Stoke (Victoria Hall), Salisbury (City Halls), Norwich (Epic Studios), Coventry (Albany) and climaxes with a huge homecoming gig at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena.

Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday March 29^th via www.cuffeandtaylor.com

Abbey Road – which features such stunning tracks as Come Together, Something, Here Comes the Sun, and the ground-breaking 16-minute album closing medley – is regarded by many fans and critics alike as The Beatles’ greatest LP.

And it is brilliantly brought to life by The Mersey Beatles who exude the inner and outer spirit of the real thing, from the costumes, instruments, Scouse charm and, of course, that unmistakable era-defining, Liverpool-born sound.

Formed in 1999, The Mersey Beatles – Mark Bloor (John), Steven Howard (Paul), Craig McGown (George) and Brian Ambrose (Ringo) – were the resident Beatles’ band at Liverpool’s legendary Cavern Club for more than a decade where they racked up more than 600 gigs.

Since leaving The Cavern, they have toured the world many times over – winning legions of fans and plaudits including John Lennon’s own family.

Their 2019 World Tour sees them play theatres and festivals across America, Australia, the Far East, Asia and Europe.

Steven said: “This year is both our 20^th anniversary and the 50^th anniversary of Abbey Road so we wanted to give Beatles’ fans something really special.

“Abbey Road is regarded by many as one of the Beatles best albums, if not the best. However, as The Beatles stopped touring in 1966, they never played these amazing songs to a concert audience. Fans today rarely, if ever, get chance to hear this amazing album played live in full.

“It went down a storm on our recent sell-out US tour and we can’t wait to bring this all-new show – which mixes both Abbey Road and songs from The Beatles entire catalogue –home to the UK.”

Every Mersey Beatles concert is a hit-packed celebration of the greatest band of all-time, from the ‘Mop Top’ hits of Beatlemania, through the psychedelic creativity of Sgt Pepper to the melodic wonder of the Fab Four’s later work.

Mark added: “It’s a real privilege for us, as a band from Liverpool, to tour the world and play these amazing songs to Beatles’ fans of all ages.

“Every show is a joyous celebration of the best band of all time and, in my mind, the greatest songs ever written. We can’t wait for the UK leg of the tour to begin – these will be amazing shows.”

Tickets for The Mersey Beatles UK Tour go on sale at 10am on Friday March 29^th via www.cuffeandtaylor.com

Global superstar and chart record holder Jess Glynne is returning to headline Scarborough Open Air Theatre this summer.

Jess – the only ever British female solo artist to score seven UK Number One singles – performed an unforgettable gig at the Yorkshire coast venue in 2017.

And in an announcement that will delight her legions of fans, Jess is bringing her stunning live show to Britain’s largest open-air arena again on Sunday July 21.

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

It has been an incredible five years for the North London singer-songwriter whose powerhouse vocals and fearless delivery has captured so many under its spell.

Smashing her way into the nation’s consciousness as the vocalist on Clean Bandit’s 2014 Grammy Award-winning ‘Rather Be’ and Route 94’s ‘My Love’, Jess has since become one of the UK’s biggest acts.

Her 2015 debut album ‘I Cry When I Laugh’ was one of the defining British pop records of the era. Hit singles ‘Hold My Hand’ and ‘Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself’ spawned 12 million worldwide singles sales, 39 weeks on the UK Top 10, 2.5 billion Spotify streams as well as BRIT, MTV, Ivor Novello, MOBO and Q award nominations.

2018’s much awaited follow-up ‘Always In Between’ – which includes the anthems ‘I’ll Be There’ and ‘All I Am’ – again took the charts by storm and was catapulted straight to Number One.

Throughout her ever-developing journey as an artist, Jess has built a huge fanbase and her live shows are magical and mesmerising events that simply can’t be missed.

Jess’s Scarborough Open Air Theatre gig is presented by Cuffe and Taylor. Director Peter Taylor said: “We are delighted Jess Glynne is returning to Scarborough OAT this summer. As proven here in 2017, her live shows are epic and wonderful events.

“In scoring score seven Number One hits, Jess has done something which no UK female solo artist has done before. It’s an incredible achievement and shows just how much her brilliant songs have become part of our lives over the last four years.

“We cannot wait to welcome Jess back to Scarborough for what promises to be another incredible night on the Yorkshire coast.”

Jess Glynne joins a stellar line-up at Scarborough OAT this summer. Kylie, Hacienda Classical, Years & Years, Madness, Cliff Richard and two shows by Lewis Capaldi have already been confirmed with more acts still to be announced.

Tickets for Jess Glynne at Scarborough Open Air Theatre go on sale at 9am on Friday March 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).

UK pop superstars Years & Years are set to light up Scarborough Open Air Theatre this summer with their stunning live show.

UK pop superstars Years & Years are set to light up Scarborough Open Air Theatre this summer with their stunning live show.

The chart-topping electro-pop group – fronted by Yorkshire-born singer Olly Alexander – will play the UK’s biggest open-air arena on Thursday July 18.

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

It has been a whirlwind four years since Years & Years’ 2015 debut smash hit album ‘Communion’ landed with the massive hit singles ‘King’, ‘Desire’ and ‘Shine’.

The band 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.

Years & Years – Olly Alexander, Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Türkmen – are famed for their electrifying live shows. They are the reigning ‘GQ Live Act of The Year’ and have built a massive fanbase around the globe.

And it’s been a brilliant start to 2019 for the band. Recent single ‘Play’ with Jax Jones went Top 10 in the UK alongside a nomination for Best British Band at this year’s BRIT Awards

Their Scarborough Open Air Theatre gig is presented by Cuffe and Taylor. Director Peter Taylor said: “Years & Years are quite simply one of the most exciting live acts around and we are beyond delighted to be bringing them to Scarborough OAT this summer.

“The band – who are fronted by Olly Alexander who, of course, hails from just down the road in Harrogate – have released hit after hit over the last few years.

“They’ve become the soundtrack to many music fans’ lives and for me, and I’m sure many other people, this is going to be one of the highlights of the summer here on the Yorkshire coast.”

Years & Years join a stellar line-up at Scarborough OAT this summer with shows by Kylie, Hacienda Classical, Madness, Cliff Richard and two dates by Lewis Capaldi already announced.

Tickets for Years & Years at Scarborough Open Air Theatre go on sale at 9am on Friday March 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).