News and entertainment worth sharing – York and North Yorkshire

Live outdoor concerts are heading to York Racecourse this summer with this three-day music extravaganza

The ABBA tribute act ABBA MANIA will be performing.
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After debuting in North Yorkshire last summer, Sounds in the Grounds has announced a new venue for its socially distanced picnic concerts for summer 2021 – our very own York Racecourse.

Audiences can enjoy three evenings of live music at the Clocktower Enclosure of York Racecourse on Friday 25 to Sunday 27 June 2021.

Audience members will have their own designated picnic patch – for two, four, or six people – which will be socially distanced from others but close enough to share the fun.

Sounds in the Grounds will feature internationally renowned bands in fully-staged productions with LED screens on either side of the stage.

Performing at York Racecourse will be connoisseurs of musical theatre Beyond the Barricade (Friday 25 June), the world’s number one touring ABBA tribute ABBA MANIA (Saturday 26 June), and a country music enthusiasts A Country Night in Nashville (Sunday 27 June). Also performing as a support act to each concert is York’s very own The New York Brass Band.

Producer James Cundall says: “After the success of Sounds in the Grounds last summer, we are thrilled to add the Clocktower Enclosure of York Racecourse to our list of prestigious venues!

“These picnic concerts are a great opportunity to get together and enjoy a fun night of live music in a safe, socially distanced way. It’s an opportunity for both musicians and crew to showcase their talent again after months of inactivity during these difficult times.”

Sounds in the Grounds concerts are designed to comply with all official guidance on Covid-19, ensuring audiences can enjoy live music outdoors in a safe and responsible way.

The picnic patches will be defined by painted lines in the grass arena within the grounds. They will be set out in alternating rows and have been designed to be one metre apart within each row, with two-metre aisles between the rows.

Patrons should bring their own chairs and may bring a picnic, but are requested to leave tables at home for space reasons. There will be food and beverages available to purchase.

Tickets for all concerts are on sale now and start at £59 (plus booking fees) for a standard picnic patch for two people.

For more information and to book your tickets, please visit the Sounds in the Grounds website.