TWO spectacular evenings of summer music will be staged at Durham County Cricket Club this weekend.

The open-air concerts in the grounds of the Riverside Stadium in Chester-le-Street, will open on Friday with The Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular, followed on Saturday by the popular Northern Proms.

Comedian Brendan Healy will host The Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular, which includes local singer songwriter Katie Doherty as the opening act.

Wayne Kennedy (Dean Martin), Fred Gardiner (Frank Sinatra) and Patrick Kuma (Sammy Davis Jnr) will sing old favourites such as Mack the Knife, Strangers in the Night and New York, New York before a firework finale brings the evening to an end.

This year's Northern Proms sees a break in tradition with two new stars, tenor Jon Christos and soprano Hannah Clarke, taking centre stage.

They will be accompanied by the Tavistock Chester-le-Street Riverside band.

Following its success at last year's event the Junior Proms will take place prior to the main act, with young musicians from around the region.

The evening will end with a firework finale set to music, with concert-goers singing along to old favourites such as Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia.

Tickets for The Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular are priced at £22 for adults when bought in advance, or £28 on the day. Under-16s tickets are priced at £12 (£18 on the day). Gates open at 6pm. Tickets for the Northern Proms are £25 for adults and £15 for under-16s. Prices on the day will be £30 for adults and £20 for juniors. Gates open at 4pm. For more details, contact 0870-3891991.