PREVIEW: Sheffield's Music In The Gardens - blooming fun with James, The Feeling, UB40 and proms

Music will be in full bloom at Sheffield's Botanical Gardens with indie stars James opening the first of four big name concerts at this year's Music In The Gardens.
Music in the Gardens will feature four nights of concert fun in Sheffield's Botanical Gardens - Thursday to Sunday, June 30 to July 3.Music in the Gardens will feature four nights of concert fun in Sheffield's Botanical Gardens - Thursday to Sunday, June 30 to July 3.
Music in the Gardens will feature four nights of concert fun in Sheffield's Botanical Gardens - Thursday to Sunday, June 30 to July 3.

The Sit Down hit makers are promising to get everyone up dancing on Thursday night (June 30) with guest support from Sheffield’s latest Radio 1 indie stars The Sherlocks.

Brit-award nominated The Feeling, with hits including Fill My Little World, are supported by Ryan Taylor’s Octofunk on Friday night.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Legendary UB40, whose hits include Red Red Wine and Kingston Town, are supported by Sheffield’s own Steel City Rhythm on Saturday.

And it ends with a proms style show - complete with fireworks - with The Unite The Union Brass Band and The Sheffield Philharmonic Orchesta, on Sunday.

This year’s Music In The Gardens has been hailed as the most ambitious in the festival’s 12 year history.

The festival began as one night of jazz in a single marquee but it is now attracting some of the biggest names in the music industry.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With sales of more than 25 million albums, opening night band James are one of the most successful bands in the UK.

UB40 play the legends headline slot on Saturday nightUB40 play the legends headline slot on Saturday night
UB40 play the legends headline slot on Saturday night

The Manchester group have produced a string of massive hits including Sit Down, Come Home and Laid,

They are currently riding high in the charts with their new album, Girl At The End Of The World and their new single, Nothing But Love.

Support The Sherlocks are Sheffield’s latest success story. They have exploded onto the national scene in the past 18-months, with their latest single Last Night on the official Radio 1 playlist.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They have a Euro 2016 semi-final night gig in Paris, with festival dates including T In The Park, Leeds and Reading Festivals, then their largest UK tour to follow in September.

Sit Down stars James are opening night headliners at this year's Music In The GardensSit Down stars James are opening night headliners at this year's Music In The Gardens
Sit Down stars James are opening night headliners at this year's Music In The Gardens

The Feeling, who headline on Friday, are widely played on radio with hits such as Never Be Lonely. Sewn and Fill My Little World.

On Saturday it’s legends night and they don’t come much bigger than UB40, featuring five of the original members of the classic ‘80s Birmingham band. Selling some 70 million albums worldwide, UB40 will be performing all their greatest hits. They are supported by Sheffield’s Steel City Rhythm.

No Music In The Gardens would be complete without its proms style Last Night in the Gardens, featuring The Unite The Union Brass Band and The Sheffield Philharmonic Orchesta on Sunday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Expect the venues to reverberate to stirring brass and strings with a good old flag-waving sing along with one of Sheffield’s most spectacular fireworks displays to round things off with a real bang.

Sheffield's latest Radio 1 stars The Sherlocks support James on the opening night of Music In The GardensSheffield's latest Radio 1 stars The Sherlocks support James on the opening night of Music In The Gardens
Sheffield's latest Radio 1 stars The Sherlocks support James on the opening night of Music In The Gardens

Music In The Gardens is no ordinary festival. It is organised by Rotary Clubs from South Yorkshire and North East Derbyshire. Every penny raised goes to charity – the event has raised £250,000 over the years.

This year it is raising money for Cruse Bereavement Care (Sheffield), Accessible Derbyshire, Alzheimer’s Society (Sheffield), Sheffield Futures, Motor Neurone Disease Association South Yorkshire, Macmillan Cancer Care (Chesterfield), Fable and Whirlow Hall Farm Trust.

Andrew Bates, of Music In The Gardens, said: “It is incredible to think how the event has developed over the years. It is a privilege to work with such big artists and an honour to have been able to raise so much for so many worthy causes over the years.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Being able to persuade artists like UB40, The Feeling and James to perform just shows how far we’ve come in the past 12 years.”

* Tickets on the gate and also see www.sivtickets.com. Prices vary each night:

* James, Thursday, June 30, £40 in advance (plus £4 booking fee); £45 on the gate.

The Feeling headline Music In The Gardens on Friday night.The Feeling headline Music In The Gardens on Friday night.
The Feeling headline Music In The Gardens on Friday night.

* The Feeling, Friday July 1, £18 in advance (plus £2 booking fee); £23 on the gate

* UB40, Saturday, July 2, £35 in advance (plus £4 booking fee). £40 on the gate;

* Last Night In The Gardens, Sunday, July 3, £15 in advance (plus £2 booking fee); £20 on the gate.