More stars and shows set for Open Air Theatre

It would see the number of concerts more than double from 12 and could bring an extra £5 million into the local economy each year.

The news comes as 1960s rock icons The Beach Boys were confirmed as the latest band for the 2017 season.

The band, known for hits including Good Vibrations and Surfin’ USA, will join British legend Sir Cliff Richard on the slate.

An application for the 18 extra dates is going through the consultation process and, if there are any objections, will have to be voted on by councillors.

The authority told The Scarborough News that even though it has applied for 30 it does not mean it will automatically increase to that number next year. The figure for 2017 is set at 18.Since the council signed a deal with promoters Cuffe and Taylor the Open Air Theatre has undergone a resurgence.

Acts including Bryan Adams, Simply Red and former Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher helped the venue to its best-ever year in terms of visitors in 2016.

In total, more than 50,000 attended the 10 concerts this year, the figure would have been higher mark had it not been for the cancellation of Armed Forces Day Alfie Boe concert due to illness.

If the expansion plans are approved around 108,000 tickets will go on sale across the 18-planned events for 2017.

Peter Taylor, director of Cuffe and Taylor, said: “This summer’s shows at Scarborough OAT, with the likes of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Bryan Adams, Simply Red and James Bay all playing to sell-out audiences, were fantastic events. We want to make 2017 even bigger and better and we would love to be able to extend the number of shows.

“Scarborough OAT is such a wonderful venue, and the Yorkshire crowds love live music so it makes perfect sense to aim high and look to extend the number of acts.

“Not only would this be great for concert-goers but also the tourist economy, as these shows would attract thousands of extra visitors to Scarborough and the beautiful Yorkshire coast.”

The move to increase the number of major events at the venue has been backed by Welcome to Yorkshire.

The body’s area director for North Yorkshire, Janet Deacon, backed the increase in a letter to the council, saying that 50 per cent of those who attend the shows come from outside of the borough.

She added: “Feedback from our tourism businesses highlight the benefits that the concerts bring to the economy, both from overnight and day visitor markets perspectives.“Holding more concerts can only benefit the borough’s economy even further.”

The council’s application also states that it does not believe the extra shows will have an impact on noise levels for neighbouring homes.Its report states that “historical levels of noise have been monitored and found to be acceptable”.

Should the increase be approved it could lead to even more big names stars coming to Scarborough.

Announcing the Scarborough show on May 24, The Beach Boys’ Mike Love, said the group were looking forward to coming to the town for the first time.

He said: “It’s great that 50 years plus we’re still in a position to be touring and sharing our music with fans around the world. “We’re really looking forward to performing outdoors on the beautiful Yorkshire coast in Scarborough. It’s going to be a great night.”

Mr Taylor added: “The Beach Boys are legends – one of the biggest bands of all time – and we are delighted to be bringing them to Scarborough Open Air Theatre in 2017.“They have written some of the biggest classic pop songs of the last six decades and we feel their infectious and instantly recognisable set list is so fitting for a seaside resort.”

Tickets for The Beach Boys at Scarborough OAT go on sale at 9am tomorrow from www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com or in person from the Scarborough Open Air Theatre Box Office.