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Rochester Castle Concerts acts revealed - Military Proms joins Soul Party, Will Young and Status Quo in the line-up

This finale act for this year's Castle Concerts in Rochester will be the traditional Castle Proms but with a special theme.

The last concert in the series this year, on Saturday, July 16, will be celebrating 300 years of the Royal Engineers and will feature musicians from the Royal Engineers Band and the Countess of Wessex strings.

As always the castle gardens will feature dancing water fountains and a firework finale to the sound of the orchestra at the end of the night.

The Castle Proms
The Castle Proms

Crowds are encouraged to bring a picnic, some bubbly and a flag to wave.

On Friday, July 15, Soul Party will take to the stage.

The show will feature Clem Curtis of the Foundations singing million-selling hitsBuild Me Up Buttercup and Baby Now That I’ve Found You, Gwen Dickey, the voice of Rose Royce, performing Car Wash, Wishing on a Star and Love Don’t Live Here Anymore and Jimmy James, of Jimmy James and the Vagabonds, presenting Now is the Time and I’ll Go Where the Music Takes Me.

Added to the line-up will be the new smash-hit stateside stage show Soul Legends who will bring to life hits by Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Lionel Richie, Barry White,Earth Wind & Fire, Kool & the Gang and more.

Soul Legends
Soul Legends

The acts for the Castle Concerts have been announced every two hours today.

Pop Idol winner Will Young will return on Thursday, July 14. The singer and actor last performed at the open air concerts in 2010.

Will Young first hit our screens in 2002 when he won the first ever Pop Idol.

Singer Will Young
Singer Will Young

His double A-sided single, Anything is Possible/Evergreen became the fastest-selling debut single in the UK.

Since then he has gone from strength to strength with number one singles, multi-platinum albums and multiple honors including two Brit awards.

Tragically, at Will's last Castle Concerts gig a member of the crew died after falling from the stage.

He said: "It was a huge tragedy, a local crew member died, and we all carried on and hopefully paid homage to him by doing the best show we could do."

The singer promises this year's show will be a feast for the eyes.

Speaking exclusively to KentOnline he said: "Creatively it’s going to be quite mad. It’s kind of a homage to Kurt Cobain and then some disco stuff and confetti. I’m not sure what else I’m doing but I know it’s going to be brilliant."

Veteran rockers Status Quo were already confirmed to return to fill one of the slots after being forced to leave thousands of fans disappointed last year when guitarist Rick Parfitt suffered a stomach illness. They will appear on Wednesday, July 13.

Status Quo
Status Quo

Last year’s gig sold out as fans travelled far and wide to see their music heroes, including a couple from Australia.

Peter Smith is due to travel from his home in Melbourne again this year, although he will be going with daughter Jessica as his wife Jenny has to stay at home to run the couple’s telecommunications business.

Not everyone who bought tickets last year can go this year, so there are still some tickets left for the show this year.

Carl Madjitey, head of events at Medway Council, said: “Everyone already knows we have Status Quo returning this year for their rescheduled gig, and they will again be supported by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel.

“There are a limited number of tickets available for their show on Wednesday, July 13. This will be one of their last high-energy performances as they hang up their electric guitars at the end of the year, so be sure to snap up the remaining tickets quickly. They’ll go on sale once the other acts are announced.”

Tickets will go on sale in performance order between tomorrow and Friday.

Tickets for Status Quo will be available from 10am tomorrow - online, in person at the Central and Brook theatres Box Office or Rochester Visitor Information Centre or by phoning 01634 338338.

Tickets for Will Young will be available from 10am on Wednesday, tickets for Soul Party go on sale on Thursday at 10am and the Proms tickets will be on sale on Friday.

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