Indie greats James will play a major outdoor gig this summer after being announced among a host of bands as headliners for a series of shows.

The band will take to the stage at Scarborough Open Air Theatre later this year after they were unveiled along with several other huge names in the music industry.

The Manchester legends – who gave the world such timeless anthems as Sit Down, Born of Frustration, She’s A Star and Come Home – head to the historic Yorkshire coast venue on Friday, July 26 this year.

James, who release their new album Yummy on April 12, will be joined in Scarborough by special guests Reverend and the Makers and GIRLBAND!

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, February 16 via ticketmaster.co.uk.

The Northern Echo: JamesJames (Image: SCARBOROUGH OPEN AIR THEATRE)

James bass player and founder member Jim Glennie said: “I'm very pleased that we will be playing Scarborough Open Air Theatre this summer – our fourth time there.

"If you haven't been there before, then make sure you come. It's a cracking venue and you can even have a paddle in the sea before the show!”

One of Britain’s most enduring success stories, James has sold more than 25 million records worldwide since forming in Manchester in the early 1980s – gaining both critical and commercial acclaim.

James is no stranger to Scarborough having headlined the 8,500-capacity open-air venue three times before – in 2015, 2018 and 2021.

Sheffield favourites Reverend and the Makers – fronted by singer-songwriter Jon McClure – celebrated a welcome return to the UK Top 10 in 2023 with the release of their critically acclaimed seventh studio album Heatwave in the Cold North.

The Northern Echo: Reverend and the MakersReverend and the Makers (Image: SCARBOROUGH OPEN AIR THEATRE)

With such anthems as Heavyweight Champion of The World, Letter To My 21-year Old Self, He Said He Loved Me, Silence Is Talking, Bassline and Black Widow, this is a long-awaited debut for Reverend and the Makers.

Nottingham-based indie rock trio GIRLBAND! – who have supported the likes of Jake Bugg, L.Devine and The Oozes, and are set for a big 2024 – will open the show on what promises to be an unmissable night.

Julian Murray, Cuffe and Taylor’s programmer for TK Maxx presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre, said: “James is one of the most important and influential bands Britain has produced over the past 40 years. Their anthemic songs are the soundtrack for a generation and their previous shows at this incredibly special venue are legendary.

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"Joined by the brilliant Reverend and the Makers and GIRLBAND!, this is going to be another wonderful night here on the Yorkshire coast.”

James join Johnny Marr and The Charlatans, Tom Jones, Korn, Simple Minds, Anne-Marie, Paul Weller, Fatboy Slim, Deacon Blue, JLS, Gregory Porter, Madness, Jess Glynne, Status Quo and Busted among headliners announced for Scarborough OAT’s 2024 summer season of shows.

A TK Maxx spokesperson added: “Everyone knows, there’s no deal like a TK Maxx deal. Our big brands at small prices mean our customers always get something amazing for less. And that’s just us on a normal day. This summer we’re going even bigger by giving away 5,000 festival tickets to our loyal customers through our reward programme, Treasure. By signing up on TKMaxx.com, savvy TK Maxx superfans will be the first to find out how to get their hands on tickets to music events up and down the country. Because there’s no summer like a TK Maxx summer.”