Safe & Sound: Outdoor concerts taking place across the UK this summer
If all goes as planned, summer 2021 will be business (and fun!) as usual for music fans
By Vanessa Vallon
For nearly a year now, the timing of the return of live events has been top-of-mind for many a music fan. With a continuous cycle of rescheduled dates, it has at times felt like an endless slog of hope and letdown. However, the distant hum of a live show may be closer than you think. In the US, Dr. Anthony Fauci recently conveyed optimism that full-capacity indoor shows could be back in action this autumn pending vaccination numbers, while in the UK, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has described his vision of “a Great British Summer” (mostly to discourage inter-country travel, but we’re pretty sure he was talking about his excitement for outdoor concerts, too).
Although cancellations are still possible, many artists and festivals have gone ahead and announced their summer dates, inviting fans to experience live music in safe outdoor settings, ranging from parks to racecourses to castle grounds. Check out these amazing outdoor concerts taking place across the UK this summer. Get excited—live music may be mere months away.
BST Hyde Park
British Summer Time festival returns to Hyde Park for one highly-anticipated July weekend. Headlined by Pearl Jam and Duran Duran, the 2021 line-up also includes Nile Rodgers & Chic, Grace Jones, Pixies and Idles. Grab tickets here.
WHEN: 9-11 Jul, 2021
WHERE: Hyde Park, London, W2 2UH
LINE-UP:
Fri, 9 Jul: Pearl Jam w/ Pixies
Sat, 10 Jul: Pearl Jam w/ Idles
Sun, 11 Jul: Duran Duran w/ special guests Nile Rodgers & CHIC and Grace Jones
Kew The Music
The picnic concert series returns to Kew Gardens in Richmond this July with performances by Van Morrison, James Blunt, Bananarama, Gipsy Kings and more. Check out tickets, as well as food packages, here.
WHEN: 6-11 Jul, 2021
WHERE: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB
LINE-UP:
Tue, 6 Jul: Van Morrison
Wed, 7 Jul: James Blunt
Thur, 8 Jul: DJ Spoony Presents Garage Classical
Fri, 9 Jul: Will Young & James Morrison
Sat, 10 Jul: Bananarama
Sun, 11 Jul: Gipsy Kings
Hi Tide Festival
Fatboy Slim and Madness headline this brand new two-day festival at the Dreamland amusement park in Margate. Jax Jones, Rudimental, Baxter Dury and more will also perform. Grab tickets here.
WHEN: 3-4 Jul, 2021
WHERE: Dreamland, Margate, CT9 1XJ
LINE-UP:
Sat, 3 Jul: Fat Boy Slim, Jax Jones, Hannah Wants, Riton (more acts TBA)
Sun, 4 Jul: Madness, Rudimental, Baxter Dury, Gentleman’s Dub Club, Hollie Cook (more acts TBA)
Rochester Castle Concerts
Rochester Castle Concerts return with three nights of all-star performances from Thursday 8th July to Saturday July 10th. UB40, The Libertines, and the Jacksons will all grace the castle stage, located 30 miles southeast of London. Check out tickets here.
WHEN: 8-10 Jul, 2021
WHERE: Castle Hill, Rochester ME1 1SW
LINE-UP:
Thu, 8 Jul: UB40
Fri, 9 Jul: The Libertines
Sat, 10 Jul: The Jacksons
Jockey Club Live
Combining live music and racing, Jockey Club Live returns for the sixth year to bring top musical talent to some of the UK’s most beautiful and prestigious racecourses, including Aintree, Haydock and Newmarket. This year’s lineup includes Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Bryan Ferry, McFly and more. Browse tickets here.
Aintree Racecourse — Liverpool
11 Jun — Nile Rodgers & Chic
Sandown Park Racecourse — Surrey
28 Jul — Nile Rodgers & Chic
05 Aug — Sandown Park Racecourse
Newmarket Racecourses — Suffolk
18 Jun — The Script
25 Jun — Rick Astley
23 Jul — Tom Jones
16 Jul — Bryan Ferry
30 Jul — Olly Murs
13 Aug — Pete Tong & The Heritage Orchestra
28 Aug — McFly
Haydock Park Racecourse — Merseyside
19 Jun — Tom Jones
17 Jul — Olly Murs
Lionel Richie
The legendary performer has rescheduled his 2020 UK tour for summer 2021, with new dates including a slot at the Nocturne Live at Blenheim Palace concert series on 19 June, as well as a performance at Bristol City Centre on 21 June. Grab tickets here.
SUMMER 2021 UK DATES:
3 Jun — Wrexham — Racecourse Ground
9 Jun — Cornwall — Eden Sessions
11 Jun — Nottingham — Victoria Embankment
12 Jun — Scarborough — Scarborough Open Air Theatre
15-16 Jun — London — Hampton Court Palace Festival
18 Jun — Newport — Isle of Wight Festival
19 Jun — Oxfordshire — Nocturne Live at Blenheim Palace
21 Jun — Bristol — Bristol City Centre
3 Jul — Lytham — Lytham Festival
1 Aug — Cardiff — Cardiff Castle
Michael Buble
The singer has announced the rescheduled dates for the second leg of his “An Evening With tour” in the UK…and he’s taking things outdoors. Bublé will perform at gorgeous open-air venues across the UK, including Powderham Castle in Exeter, Cardiff Castle, and the Royal Crescent in Bath. Get your tickets here.
SUMMER 2021 UK DATES:
9 Jul — Exeter — Powderham Castle
10 Jul — Canterbury — The Spitfire Ground, St. Lawrence
13 Jul — Leeds — Harewood House
15 Jul — Norwich — Blickling Estate
16-17 Jul — Bath — The Royal Crescent
19 Jul — Hove — First Central County Ground
20 Jul — Derby — The Pattonair Country Ground
22 Jul — Cardiff — Cardiff Castle
23 Jul — Warwick — Warwick Castle
25 Jul — Hatfield — Hatfield House
27 Jul — Durham — Emirates Riverside – Durham County Cricket Club
Bryan Adams
Adams has a full tour of outdoor gigs lined up for spring and summer 2021–including three nights at Londons’ Royal Albert Hall and a headline slot at Cornbury Music Festival in Oxfordshire. Check out tickets here.
SPRING/SUMMER 2021 UK DATES:
11 Apr — Hull — Bonus Arena
13-15 Apr — London — Royal Albert Hall
26 Jun — Bristol — Bristol City Centre
27 Jun — Cardiff — Cardiff Castle
01 Jul — Scarborough — Scarborough Open Air Theatre
02 Jul — Widnes — Dcbl Halton Stadium
03 Jul — Telford — Qeii Arena
05 Jul — Cornwall — Eden Project
06 Jul — Exeter — Powderham Castle
08 Jul — Canterbury — The Spitfire Ground
09 Jul — Cornbury — Cornbury Music Festival
10 Jul — Leeds — Harewood House