Lytham Festival has grown from a one-night-only community Proms-style concert to a spectacular five-day live music event which now attracts well in excess of 70,000 people each summer. Staged on the banks of Lancashire’s stunning Ribble Estuary, the festival was the brainchild of friends Daniel Cuffe and Peter Taylor. What started out as two local lads having an idea for a one-night event for Leafy Lytham is now a huge event on the national music calendar, with fans travelling from all four corners of the UK as well as from overseas to witness and take part in this festival. In 2010 just 4,500 local people came to what was then Lytham Proms to watch soprano Lesley Garrett perform. A year later Lytham Proms grew into a three-day event with headliners Status Quo and Boyzone as well as a traditional proms concert headlined by Katherine Jenkins. As the Proms gained increasing popularity, in 2015 it became a four-day event and was re-branded Lytham Festival. And since 2015 Lytham Festival has been a five-day event. Headliners have varied massively over the years ranging from the likes of Billy Ocean, Tom Jones, Faithless and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds to Bryan Adams, Hacienda Classical, Nile Rodgers and CHIC and Madness. Alongside those headliners have been spectacular picnic Proms-style concerts attracting classical and musical theatre royalty including Lea Salonga, Ramin Karimloo, Michael Ball, Sheridan Smith, Alfie Boe, Collabro and Jodie Prenger. 2019 marked the 10th anniversary with headline shows from Rod Stewart, Kylie Minogue and Stereophonics. 2022 saw 10 incredible nights of live music for one year only featuring over 30 artists including Diana Ross, The Strokes, Lewis Capaldi, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Duran Duran, Snow Patrol, Simply Red, Paul Weller, Tears for Fears, Elbow and many more. 2023 will see five nights of live music light up Lytham Green once again. This tranquil beauty spot is normally reserved for dog walkers, kite flyers and family picnics but for one week each summer it is transformed into a buzzing live music hub as artists from across the globe perform to crowds of up to 20,000 people a night.

Scarborough’s Open Air Theatre was built by Scarborough Corporation in the 1930’s. The Lord Mayor of London opened the Open Air Theatre in Northstead Manor Gardens in 1932, and audiences flocked to see ‘Merrie England’, the first production to be staged at the outdoor venue. The theatre underwent a major refurbishment and on 20 May 2010, the newly refurbished Scarborough Open Air Theatre was officially opened by HRH Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. Since its official re-opening, the Scarborough OAT has played host to some of the music industry’s biggest stars, including Elton John, Britney Spears, Gary Barlow, Kylie, Noel Gallagher, Lionel Richie, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Biffy Clyro, Little Mix, Lewis Capaldi and many more.