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LIVE Party at the palace: Stately homes reap rewards from concerts boom

Kylie, Nile Rodgers and Ms Lauryn Hill set to star over the summer as “quintessentially British” shows pull in the crowds

Q BY JAMES HANLEY The popularity of concerts at UK stately homes and castles is on the rise, according to promoters, with an increasing number of historical sites entering the fray. In the coming weeks, Kenwood House will host the Heritage Live Concert Series with Madness, Jose Carreras and The Piano Guy; whNocturne Live will bring Gladys “The festival is Knight, Ms Lauryn Hill, Tears For Fears a fantastic way and Kylie Minogue to Blenheim Palace; and the Somerset House Summer Series will for us to get welcome acts including Doves, The Good, new audiences The Bad & The Queen and Gossip. “There are great examples of unique into the palace” and historic venues that have been hosting Liz Young music events for years, with no damage to Hampton Court the historic fabric of the building or negative Palace Festival impact to the day visitor, so that may help persuade the more risk averse to try something like this,” Liz Young of Historic Royal Palaces told Music Week. “Of course, we’ve also got these Instagrammable moments here: beautiful backdrops, stunning gardens and a much more up close experience with artists. I think that’s what people want – something a

little bit more than just a concert.” Max Miechowski Young is head of events at Hampton Court Palace Festival, which kicks off its PHOTO: 2019 programme this week. “Venues like ours are becoming much All night long: Lionel Richie at last year’s Hampton Court Palace Festival more commercially-savvy,” she said. “The festival is a fantastic way for us to get completely different audiences into the Court in the act: Hampton Court Palace targets new heights palace and also, of course, it’s of great financial benefit to us. We’re an independent Festival bosses aim to bring in diverse range of acts to attract wider demographic charity, so we use the venue in different ways to get money into the coffers to enable Celebrating its 27th annual concerts take place in one of the us to maintain the buildings.” edition, Hampton Court Palace courtyards, rather than being bolted Promoter Cuffe & Taylor has run tours Festival is one of the most on in the gardens.” of stately homes by acts such as Tom Jones, established events in the business. Attendees can enjoy a range of Madness and Nile Rodgers & Chic. Its The festival, which runs from dining experiences ahead of each 2018 Summer House Sounds series visited June 6-22, has previously been evening’s 3,000-capacity show. Tickets Englefield House, Berkshire; Euston Park, headlined by stars including Elton range from £49 to £99 with VIP Suffolk; Ragley Hall, Warwickshire; Alnwick John, Eric Clapton, Lionel Richie options packages priced up to £390. Castle, Northumberland; Stansted Park, and Van Morrison. “We have the formal gardens Hampshire, and Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire. This year’s eclectic line-up Hamp-lified: IMG’s Joel Smith at the back of the palace itself “They are not traditional concert venues features Jools Holland, The where people can have a picnic and and we tend to get a lot of locals coming Jacksons, Busted, Caro Emerald, Nile Rodgers & Chic, champagne and enjoy the outside space before coming because they are able to see something on Tears For Fears, Kylie, and Michael Ball & Alfie Boe. in to the Tudor courtyard for the concert,” adds head of their doorstep,” said director Peter Taylor. “When I joined 10 years ago there were an awful lot events Liz Young. “People just like the thought of being of concerts in parks and stately homes,” said Joel Smith, “We purposefully challenge IMG to get different outside, at a stately home, watching a gig – VP of arts and entertainment for event producer, IMG. styles of artists, specifically because we want to have it’s quintessentially British. “Some of those drifted away and some of them have different audiences coming in. It’s an alternative way for “For us, it’s about doing gigs in new come back, but Hampton Court has always remained. people to engage and interact with their favourite artists markets. It suits artists that want to play to It has a very loyal audience, along with the spectacular because the capacity is much smaller than you would local audiences that perhaps won’t have seen setting of the palace. What is unique is the fact that the expect to see these big names.” them before.”

06 | Music Week 03.06.19 musicweek.com