Overview
- Rick Astley opened the Scarborough season on Friday, June 5, with a set that began with "Lights Out," included hits such as "Whenever You Need Somebody" and "Together Forever," featured him on drums for "Highway to Hell," and closed with a sing-along of "Never Gonna Give You Up."
- Special guests on opening night included chart-topping Lottery Winners and Manchester indie band The Covasettes, who performed before thousands of fans captured in promoter-supplied photos.
- UK pop icons Madness headlined the following night, delivering an 85-minute, hit-packed set on Saturday, June 6, in their fourth appearance at the venue.
- Promoters Cuffe and Taylor say the TK Maxx‑presented season will run to a record 26 headline shows and that current ticket sales have already beaten last year’s total of 115,000.
- Scarborough Open Air Theatre is one of the UK’s largest outdoor arenas and the packed opening weekend, plus a line-up that includes Paul Weller and other major names, is likely to drive more visitors to the Yorkshire coast and extend the summer tourism boost.