Sir Cliff Richard to play Staffordshire outdoor show
Sir Cliff Richard is to play an outdoor show in Staffordshire as part of a mini tour of the UK next summer.
The singer will follow the release of his new album, Just Fabulous Rock'n'Roll, with a summer tour of some the UK's most beautiful castles and locations.
The 76-year-old has announced the dates as part of his return to public life after police said they were not pursuing historic sex allegations made against him.
He will perform at such venues as Eastnor Castle in Hertfordshire, Stanstead Park in Hampshire and Harewood House in Yorkshire as well as Catton Hall, north of Lichfield, on June 22, and Walcot Hall, Shropshire on June 21. Tickets for the all-seated shows will be priced between £45 and £65 and will go on sale at 10am on November 14.
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Members of Sir Cliff's fan club will be able to get their hands on tickets through a pre-sale on November 12, as will those who pre-order the new album prior to the 12th.
The tour will be a series of fully seated outdoor concerts in intimate arenas built especially for Cliff and his fans.
Of the set-up, he said: "They are like festival shows, open air concerts. We're doing two in Denmark, one in Ireland and nine in Britain."
The show at Catton Hall will see Cliff and his famously loyal following take over the private estate, which has been owned by the same family for 600 years.
Set in 250 acres of parkland, the site has been hosting events for over 25 years, ranging from horse trials to rock concerts.
Sir Cliff's new album, which is his 101st release and out on Friday, includes new versions of rock'n'roll classics such as Roll Over Beethoven, Great Balls of Fire and Sweet Little Sixteen.
The veteran singer today revealed he will be playing an open-air concert at Walcot Hall in south Shropshire.
It is one of just 10 dates across the UK and Ireland announced for next year.
The 76-year-old, who is releasing his 101st album on Friday, revealed how he broke down and wept after being told police would not pursue charges against him.
Four men had alleged sex assaults between 1958 and 1983 but in June prosecutors said no charges would be brought, a ruling confirmed in September.
Sir Cliff, said he suffered "distress, humiliation, anxiety and illness" as well as periods of depression during the 22-month investigation by South Yorkshire Police.
He said next year's tour would be of "the UK's most beautiful castles and historic locations in June and July 2017, together with a single date in Cork, Ireland".
He added: "They are like festival shows, open air concerts. We're doing two in Denmark, one in Ireland and nine in Britain."
It is a major coup for Walcot Hall, best known as a wedding venue and holiday cottage location. It is in the village of Lydbury North, near Bishop's Castle, which has a population of about 300 people.
The Georgian country house, once owned by Clive of India and today the home of the Parish family, previously played host to a younger generation's musical heart throbs when One Direction filmed there, but it is unusual for a rock concert to be staged there, as Sir Cliff will be doing on June 21.
His new album, Just . . . Fabulous Rock n Roll, includes new versions of rock n roll classics such as Roll Over Beethoven, Great Balls of Fire, Sweet Little Sixteen and his own debut single, Move It, as well as a duet with fellow idol Elvis Presley on Blue Suede Shoes.
News of the album came days after a review concluded the CPS was correct to not prosecute the singer over historical sexual abuse allegations.
The veteran singer is currently taking legal action against the police and the BBC, who filmed a raid on his Berkshire mansion in 2014.
Other venues for Sir Cliff's forthcoming tour include Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire, Live at The Marquee in Cork, Stansted Park in Hampshire, Catton Hall in Derbyshire, Lincoln Castle in Lincolnshire, Euston Hall in Suffolk, Harewood House and Scarborough Open Air Theatre in Yorkshire and Greenwich Music Time in London.
