Simply Red bring Summer Funk 27 UK and European tour to Scarborough
Simply Red have announced details of a very special UK and European headline tour for 2027 – including an unmissable date at Scarborough Open Air Theatre.
The ‘Summer Funk ‘27’ tour will see Mick Hucknall and the band play a unique high-energy set, bringing good times and a celebratory atmosphere throughout the summer months.
Joined by UK soul and funk legends Soul II Soul, Simply Red head to Scarborough OAT on Tuesday August 17.
Tickets for this unmissable date go on general sale via ticketmaster.co.uk and scarboroughopenairtheatre.com at 10am on Thursday September 24.
The 2027 date is a welcome return to the Yorkshire coast for Simply Red who have twice headlined Scarborough OAT before – in 2016 and 2022.
While the all-new show will be full of their mammoth crowd-pleasing moments and biggest hits - the rollercoaster rush of Fairground, the potent funk of Something Got Me Started, the sumptuous soul of Money’s Too Tight (To Mention) – the uplifting nature of the songs will be complemented by the stunning Yorkshire coast location.
Led by Mick Hucknall, whose timeless blue-eyed soul vocal is as remarkable, powerful and passionate as ever, Simply Red also features Ian Kirkham (sax, EWI, brass), Kenji Suzuki (guitar), Kevin Robinson (trumpet, horns, percussion), Roman Roth (drums), Gary Sanctuary (keys) and Orefo Orakwue (bass).
Mick Hucknall said: “We can't wait to get back out on the road again in summer 2027 to perform at some incredible and historic venues across the UK and Europe.
"You can expect a set full of Simply Red upbeat hits to get you on your feet having fun in the sun with friends and family.”
You can sign up to the Simply Red mailing list https://simplyred.os.fan/website-sign-up-form to access a pre-sale for tickets for the tour.
The pre-sale opens at 10am on Tuesday, September 22.
Summer Funk ‘27 will be Simply Red’s first tour since their 2025 40th anniversary celebration.
The tour sold-out almost 50 venues across the UK, Europe and Latin America, delighting fans and leading to a critical reappraisal of their talents. The tour was documented with the live album, film and box set ‘Holding Back the Years: 40 Years of Simply Red, Live in Santiago’, an electrifying mix of rambunctious R&B and tender, emotive balladeering.
Simply Red have maintained their position as one of the UK’s biggest bands throughout their 40-plus year history.
The stats tell their own story – five number one albums, a number one single and another nine top 10 hits, plus three BRIT Awards, two Ivor Novellos, and the MOBO Award for Outstanding Achievement.
Julian Murray of promoters Cuffe and Taylor, venue programmers at Scarborough OAT, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be welcoming Mick Hucknall and Simply Red back to Scarborough OAT for their third headline show here.
"They are one of Britain's most enduring bands and their previous headline shows in 2016 and 2022 were sensational.
"Joined by Soul II Soul, this is going to be another incredible night here on the Yorkshire coast.”
Simply Red join Jack Savoretti and James Morrison among the first 2027 headliners announced for Scarborough OAT.
The 2026 Scarborough OAT season saw shows from such global icons Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, Hollywood Vampires and Teddy Swims and attracted gig-goers from 64 countries.
Visit scarboroughopenairthetare.com for more.