Scarborough Open Air Theatre celebrates a century of major live music shows this week as the UK’s largest purpose-built outdoor concert arena plays host to three massive gigs.
Manchester greats Courteeners take to the stage on Wednesday night for what will be the 100th headline show at the Yorkshire coast venue since it re-opened to the public in 2010.
24 hours later, on Thursday night, it will be the turn of fellow Mancunian greats James to headline before chart-toppers Snow Patrol complete a week to remember on Friday.
Final tickets for all three shows are available from www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com
More than 450,000 people have attended a concert at Scarborough OAT since Her Majesty The Queen re-opened the refurbished Scarborough Borough Council-owned arena 11 years ago.
Headliners to grace the historic stage in the last few years include world-wide superstars and music legends such as Britney Spears, Lionel Richie, Elton John, Tom Jones, Kylie Minogue, Noel Gallagher, Dionne Warwick, The Beach Boys, Nile Rodgers and CHIC plus many more (see full line up below).
This year’s star-studded season – which comes to a close next week with a sell-out show from pop legends Duran Duran – has been a welcome return for a venue cherished by both locals and music fans from across the UK.
Cllr Jim Grieve, Scarborough Borough Council’s cabinet member for quality of life, said: “Since reopening in 2010, Scarborough Open Air Theatre has established itself as the borough’s premier outdoor live music venue.
“Working with our partners we’ve brought some of the biggest names in the music industry to the Yorkshire coast. This has boosted the area’s reputation for high quality events and contributed millions of pounds to the local economy.
“As we reach the milestone of 100 shows at the theatre this week, we look forward to many more years of fantastic events to come.”
Live music is programmed at Scarborough OAT by promoters Cuffe and Taylor, who are part of Live Nation and have a 10-year contract to deliver headline shows at the venue, which now boasts a capacity of 8,000.
Venue programmer Peter Taylor said: “What a week we have in store here at Scarborough Open Air Theatre. Courteeners, James and Snow Patrol are three of the biggest names in British indie rock and to bring all three here in the same week is just fantastic. This really is going to be a week to remember.
“Cuffe and Taylor is so proud to have programmed live music at this wonderful venue since 2016, in which time we have brought many world-famous music icons to the Yorkshire coast. We absolutely love it and we cannot wait to add to the century of big-name headliners in the years to come. Watch this space!”
Shows at Scarborough OAT attract thousands of visitors to the Yorkshire coast each summer and have created an estimated benefit to the borough of more than £25m in the last decade.
Cuffe and Taylor work hand-in-hand with the dedicated council-led team at Scarborough OAT.
Stuart Clark, Scarborough OAT venue manager, has worked on more than 90 of the 100 headline shows since 2010. He said: “It’s a brilliant venue – a real jewel in the Yorkshire coast’s crown. You only have to look at the calibre of artists who come here regularly to realise how well thought of Scarborough OAT is.
“It’s such a team effort to put these shows on and I cannot thank the incredible team here at the venue and Cuffe and Taylor enough. But above all we’d all like to thank the people of the borough and the Yorkshire coast for their incredible support of the venue down the years – and here’s to many more brilliant nights at the OAT!”
For tickets and information about events at Scarborough Open Air Theatre visit www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com or call the venue box office on (01723 818111).
SCARBOROUGH OPEN AIR THEATRE’S
HEADLINE SHOWS 2010-2021
SHOW # | ARTIST | DATE OF SHOW |
1 | Gala Opening | 23/07/2010 |
2 | 80’s Rewind 2010 | 31/07/2010 |
3 | The Doves | 07/08/2010 |
4 | N Dubz | 05/06/2011 |
5 | Elton John | 21/06/2011 |
6 | Musicport | 14/08/2011 |
7 | Last Night of the Proms | 28/08/2011 |
8 | 80’s Rewind 2011 | 02/09/2011 |
9 | Dionne Warwick | 06/06/2012 |
10 | John Barrowman | 21/06/2012 |
11 | Olly Murs | 15/07/2012 |
12 | Russell Watson | 04/08/2012 |
13 | Big Night Out | 18/08/2012 |
14 | JLS | 25/08/2012 |
15 | Olly Murs | 06/06/2013 |
16 | The Wanted | 14/06/2013 |
17 | Happy Mondays | 22/06/2013 |
18 | Leona Lewis | 12/07/2013 |
19 | Status Quo | 27/07/2013 |
20 | Katherine Jenkins | 03/08/2013 |
21 | The Saturdays | 23/08/2013 |
22 | McFly | 30/08/2013 |
23 | Jessie J | 25/06/2014 |
24 | McBusted | 27/06/2014 |
25 | Last Night Of The Proms | 28/06/2014 |
26 | Status Quo | 12/07/2014 |
27 | Boyzone | 26/07/2014 |
28 | Little Mix | 27/07/2014 |
29 | Legends Of Pop 2014 | 02/08/2014 |
30 | Union J | 23/08/2014 |
31 | James | 22/05/2015 |
32 | Boyzone | 13/06/2015 |
33 | Last Night Of The Proms with Alfie Boe | 27/06/2015 |
34 | The Vamps | 27/06/2015 |
35 | Jessie J | 10/07/2015 |
36 | Elaine Paige and The Royal Phil Orchestra | 11/07/2015 |
37 | McBusted | 18/07/2015 |
38 | Tom Jones | 29/07/2015 |
39 | Legends of Pop 2015 | 01/08/2015 |
40 | UB40 | 14/08/2015 |
41 | Scouting for Girls | 30/08/2015 |
42 | Will Young | 30/06/2016 |
43 | Status Quo | 09/07/2016 |
44 | James Bay | 12/07/2016 |
45 | Wet Wet Wet | 30/07/2016 |
46 | Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds | 03/08/2016 |
47 | Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott | 05/08/2016 |
48 | Legends of Pop 2016 | 06/08/2016 |
49 | Bryan Adams | 08/08/2016 |
50 | Simply Red | 12/08/2016 |
51 | Busted | 02/09/2016 |
52 | The Beach Boys | 24/05/2017 |
53 | Kaiser Chiefs | 27/05/2017 |
54 | Charlatans | 16/06/2017 |
55 | The Jacksons | 17/06/2017 |
56 | Michael Ball and Alfie Boe | 28/06/2017 |
57 | Cliff Richard | 29/06/2017 |
58 | UB40 ft. Ali Campbell and Astro | 30/06/2017 |
59 | George Benson | 01/07/2017 |
60 | Tom Jones | 02/07/2017 |
61 | Little Mix | 06/07/2017 |
62 | Olly Murs | 09/07/2017 |
63 | Madness | 03/08/2017 |
64 | 80s v 90s | 05/08/2017 |
65 | Jess Glynne | 11/08/2017 |
66 | Lionel Richie | 19/06/2018 |
67 | The Script | 21/06/2018 |
68 | Gary Barlow | 22/06/2018 |
69 | Nile Rodgers and CHIC | 24/06/2018 |
70 | Steps | 29/06/2018 |
71 | Alfie Boe | 30/06/2018 |
72 | Emeli Sande | 05/07/2018 |
73 | Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds | 06/07/2018 |
74 | Stereophonics | 19/07/2018 |
75 | Pete Tong Ibiza Classics | 20/07/2018 |
76 | Il Divo | 21/07/2018 |
77 | James Arthur | 26/07/2018 |
78 | Bastille | 28/07/2018 |
79 | Texas | 11/08/2018 |
80 | Britney Spears | 17/08/2018 |
81 | James | 18/08/2018 |
82 | Hacienda Classical | 08/06/2019 |
83 | Biffy Clyro | 14/06/2019 |
84 | Cliff Richard | 26/06/2019 |
85 | Years and Years | 18/07/2019 |
86 | Madness | 19/07/2019 |
87 | Lewis Capaldi | 20/07/2019 |
88 | Jess Glynne | 21/07/2019 |
89 | Kylie Minogue | 01/08/2019 |
90 | Lewis Capaldi | 30/08/2019 |
91 | Queen Machine | 31/08/2019 |
92 | Stereophonics | 28/07/2021 |
93 | Kaiser Chiefs | 08/08/2021 |
94 | Culture Club | 14/08/2021 |
95 | Nile Rodgers & CHIC | 20/08/2021 |
96 | Keane | 21/08/2021 |
97 | Olly Murs | 27/08/2021 |
98 | UB40 ft. Ali Campbell and Astro | 28/08/2021 |
99 | Anne-Marie | 29/08/2021 |
100 | Courteeners | 08/09/2021 |
101 | James | 09/09/2021 |
102 | Snow Patrol | 10/09/2021 |
103 | Duran Duran | 17/09/2021 |