The BRIT Award winner opened TK Maxx presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre 2026, with a show of his greatest hits.
Rick Astley opened Scarborough Open Air Theatre’s 2026 summer season on Friday, June 5, with special guests Lottery Winners. (Image: Cuffe and Taylor)
Rick made his fourth appearance at the UK’s largest open air concert arena, playing a set packed with songs from across his chart-topping career.
Thousands turned out to watch Rick Astley at Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Friday, June 5. (Image: Cuffe and Taylor)
Opening with his 2010 hit Lights Out, Rick and his band played fan favourites Cry For Help, Whenever You Need Somebody, Dance, Raindrops, Angels On My Side, Keep Singing, Together Forever and Highway To Hell, with Rick taking to the drums for the AC/DC classic.
The crowd was treated to a sing-along finale of the iconic Never Going To Give You Up which brought the curtain down on the opening night.
Rick Astley opens record Scarborough Open Air Theatre season. (Image: Cuffe and Taylor)
Joining Rick on the night were special guests, double UK chart-toppers Lottery Winners, and Manchester indie band The Covasettes.
Lottery Winners, last year, racked up their second number one album with the release of fourth studio album KOKO.
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The band also performed some of their biggest headline shows to date and spent last summer on the road supporting Robbie Williams on his UK and Europe stadium tour.
Double UK chart-toppers Lottery Winners joined the line-up for the first show of Scarborough Open Air Theatre’s 2026 summer season on Friday, June 5. (Image: Cuffe and Taylor)
TK Maxx presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre 2026, which sees a record 26 headline shows from some of music’s biggest and best-known stars, continues tonight, Saturday, with UK pop icons Madness.
Rick last played Scarborough Open Air Theatre in 2024 and his 2026 return follows his Reflection arena tour.
Rick Astley opened Scarborough Open Air Theatre’s 2026 summer season on Friday, June 5, with special guests Lottery Winners. (Image: Cuffe and Taylor)
The hitmaker first rose to fame in 1987 with the era-defining smash single Never Gonna Give You Up, followed by hits including Together Forever and Whenever You Need Somebody.
He stepped away from the spotlight, returning to attention in 2016 as he celebrated his half century back on the top of the charts with album 50.
Fans flocked to the coastal arena to see Rick Astley. (Image: Cuffe and Taylor)
The singer, songwriter and producer has stayed at the top of his game ever since, enjoying collaborations with the likes of Foo Fighters and Blossoms, show-stealing sets at Glastonbury and a number two chart position for 2023 album Are We There Yet? – contributing to more than 40 million record sales worldwide.
Rick Astley joins Skunk Anansie and Garbage, James Taylor, Deacon Blue, Alex James’ Britpop Classical, Paul Weller, James Arthur, Billy Ocean, Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics, David Gray, Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé and Deacon Blue among the headliners for Scarborough Open Air Theatre 2026.