Richard Ashcroft is announced today as the first headliner for next summer’s Nocturne Live concert series, which returns to the 10,000-capacity UNESCO World Heritage Site of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire from June 18th – 22nd 2025. Ashcroft will headline on Thursday June 19th 2025 with support from Lightning Seeds and The Zutons.

As the mercurial frontman of ‘90s rock band The Verve, Ashcroft carved a reputation as one of his generation’s most iconic performers. The group’s breakthrough album Urban Hymns, which spawned hit singles Bitter Sweet Symphony, Lucky Man, and The Drugs Don’t Work, became one of the defining releases of the ‘90s and remains one of the best-selling albums in UK history.

Support for Richard Ashcroft at Blenheim Palace comes from Lightning Seeds and The Zutons. With lead singer and songwriter Ian Broudie at the helm, Lightning Seeds became one of the most successful acts of the ‘90s thanks to hits including The Life of Riley, Pure, Lucky You and their enduring 1996 smash Three Lions. They perform at Blenheim Palace in celebration of their 35th anniversary. The Zutons are a multi-platinum-selling Liverpool band famed for their smash hit singles Why Won’t You Give Me Your Love? and Valerie – a huge international hit which reached even greater heights when covered by Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse. The band recently released The Big Decider, their first new album in 16 years which was produced by Nile Rodgers and the band’s original producer Ian Broudie, and charted in the UK Top 10.

Nocturne Live transforms Blenheim Palace’s Great Court into a spectacular 10,000-capacity open-air concert venue and since its inception in 2015 has gone on to become one of the UK’s most popular stately home concert experiences. Over the years the series has presented shows from a host of huge international stars including the likes of Lionel Ritchie, Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Nile Rodgers, Lauryn Hill, Noel Gallagher, Gregory Porter, Van Morrison, Tears for Fears, Gladys Knight, Elvis Costello, Simple Minds and Ennio Morricone amongst many others.

Nocturne Live 2025 runs from Wednesday June 18th – Sunday June 22nd. Tickets for Richard Ashcroft, Lightning Seeds and The Zutons start at £54 and go on sale at 9am on Friday October 25th. Pre-sale is available to those signed up to the Nocturne Live mailing list and begins at 9am on Tuesday October 22nd. Tickets, along with a limited number of VIP packages – which provide an exclusive opportunity to dine in the State Rooms of Blenheim Palace – are available from www.nocturnelive.com.

More acts for the series will be announced in due course.

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