Superstar Sir Tom Jones to play York Racecourse this summer

tom-jones-the-voice — Tom Jones, as seen on The Voice. Photograph: BBC / Wall To Wall / Ray Burmiston

Sir Tom Jones plays York Racecourse

Friday, July 24, 2015

£21-£38; accompanied under-16s free,

Tickets on sale now at the York Racecourse website

The incredible vocals of singing legend Sir Tom Jones will echo around York this summer – as he has been booked to headline the Music Showcase at the racecourse.

The international singing star, known to a new generation of music fans as a judge on BBC1 talent show The Voice, will play York Racecourse on Friday, July 24, 2015.

He will be the headliner on the first day of the popular two-day Music Showcase weekend, where crowds enjoy an afternoon of racing and an evening concert.

The musicians who will play that Saturday, July 25, have yet to be announced.

Sir Tom, 74, has been in the charts through the decades since It’s Not Unusual went to number one in 1965.

Since then he’s notched up 36 top 40 hits in the UK and 19 in the States. Other hits include What’s New Pussycat, Delilah, Green, Green Grass of Home, She’s A Lady, Kiss and Sex Bomb.

This is what Sir Tom said about the news:

I’ve always loved performing live and can’t wait to be part of what I understand is the very special atmosphere of a music showcase night at York Races.

‘Fantastic showman’

tom-jones-janis-joplin — Tom Jones duetting with Janis Joplin on the TV show This Is Tom Jones in 1969. Photograph © ABC Television via Wikimedia Commons

“He’s been around in this business for 40 years and has nearly that many top 40 hits,” said James Brennan of York Racecourse, announcing the coup on Minster FM on Thursday (March 5).

James added:

He keeps reinventing himself like all the top talent does. You see him live now as the patriarch of the music industry.

Someone saw him in concert only last week. Forty years of experience on stage, whether it’s Vegas or York Racecourse, he’s still a fantastic showman.

The Music Showcase has brought top acts to York in the past, including Debbie Harry and Madness.

And, said James, the historic racecourse has played host to some great sporting knights including the late Sir Henry Cecil.

“Now we’ve got a musical one – Sir Tom Jones.”

This was the second piece of good news from York Racecourse this week – earlier it was announced that its Juddmonte International had been ranked as the best race in the world by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.

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