RONAN Keating and Katherine Jenkins have been confirmed as the headline acts at this summer’s Audley End Picnic Concerts.
As exclusively revealed by the Reporter yesterday (Wednesday), the Irish chart-topper will be performing his hits When You Say Nothing At All, Life Is A Rollercoaster and If Tomorrow Never Comes on Saturday August 10.
This summer’s picnic concerts will run across two weekends – August 3-4 and August 10-11.
With a career spanning over 20 years, Keating has toured the world several times over and has sold more than 42 million records worldwide.
Supporting him on the night will be Sadie and the Hotheads – a band fronted by Hollywood actress Elizabeth McGovern, of Downton Abbey fame. Saffron Walden-based jazz sensation Joanna Eden is also on the bill.
The Greatest 80’s Party...ever! will open up the series of concerts on Saturday August 3, starring 80s artists Kim Wilde, ABC, Go West, Imagination, Odyssey, Cutting Crew and Sonia.
Organisers English Heritage have billed it as the perfect excuse to get out those shoulder pads, leotards and leg warmers dress up and dance into a party frenzy to famous hit songs such as Kids in America, Poison Arrow, Died In Your Arms Tonight and You’ll Never Stop Me From Loving You.
Another evening has been scheduled on Sunday August 4 but the line-up is yet to be announced.
The festivities will culminate on Sunday August 11 with a spectacular concert from Welsh songstress Katherine Jenkins. She will be accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Anthony Inglis, for an evening that will feature favourites from The Last Night of the Proms, plus a special guest yet to be confirmed.
The evening will include a dramatic Grace Spitfire display and stunning firework display, rounding off what revellers will hope is a perfect summer’s evening.
English Heritage’s general manager at Audley End House, Lynsey Coombs, said: “We are delighted that we can go ahead with this year’s Picnic Concerts. It’s such a popular event in a beautiful setting and a wonderful way to spend a British summer’s evening.”
A spokesman from Portal Events Ltd, the firm appointed to promote and manage the concerts for the next five years, said: “In 2012 we came late to the party and managed to get the concerts up and running at really short notice.
“We were so overwhelmed with the support from both the Public and English Heritage that we were delighted when we were then awarded the long-term contract for the concerts at Audley End.
“It is a very exciting opportunity for us to both continue and also develop the concerts in coming years and hope that this years visitors will be impressed with the improvements we are now able to start making.”
Tickets are £35 for the two Saturday nights, £32 for English Heritage members, and £32 for Sunday August 11, £30 for English Heritage members. They will go on sale from tomorrow (Friday March 15).
To book, visit audleyendconcerts.com, call See Tickets 0844 995 0995, Ticketmaster on 0844 844 0444 or visit the Saffron Walden Tourist Information Centre. Tickets are also available from the Bishop’s Stortford Tourist Information Centre.
Doors will open at 4.30pm for concert-goers to enjoy the East Park and picnic ahead of the start of each show from 7.30pm. There will be ample food and drink stalls as well as a bar and a concert shop.
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