Paul Heaton set for beautiful south Shropshire

Former Housemartins frontman Paul Heaton is set to perform in beautiful south Shropshire next year.

Heaton will be joined by Scottish singer-songwriter Rianne Downey on 17 July, when he plays as part of the annual summer concert series in Ludlow.

The Live at Ludlow Castle shows will also feature McFly, Becky Hill and UB40 ft Ali Campbell, with more acts due to be announced.

The concerts began in 2023, with 50,000 people visiting this year over two weekends, to see the likes of Snow Patrol, Paul Weller, The Human League, Tom Grennan, The Streets, Rick Astley, Richard Ashcroft and Scissor Sisters.

Heaton founded The Housemartins in 1983 and found success with Happy Hour, Caravan of Love and Build.

Later, he created The Beautiful South, who released 10 albums and had chart success with songs including A Little Time, Don't Marry Her and others.

The band sold 15 million albums and their 1994 singles compilation, Carry On Up The Charts, has been one of the best-selling albums in British history.

Since The Beautiful South broke up Heaton has continued as a solo artist and during the coronavirus pandemic he discovered Downey after she posted a video of herself singing The Beautiful South's single, Rotterdam (Or Anywhere).

The pair now tour together and have appeared at festivals including Radio 2 in the Park and Glastonbury.

Support acts for Heaton are yet to be announced.

The Live at Ludlow organisers, Futuresound, said the concerts sell out every year and had become "a vital and highly anticipated event in the town's cultural calendar".

Futuresound said they brought more than £1m into the town in 2025 and an agreement was signed this summer to continue them until at least 2033.

Tickets for the Paul Heaton concert are due to go on sale to people in the Ludlow area on 4 November with general sale starting on 6 November.

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