James, The Feeling and UB40 to headline Music in the Gardens this summer

James will headline the opening night of this summer's Music in the Gardens

Hailing from Manchester James are well known for a string of massive hits in the early 1990s with songs like Sit Down, She’s A Star, Destiny Calling, Come Home and Laid.

Between 1990 and 2008, the albums Gold Mother (later re-titled James), Seven, Laid, Whiplash, Millionaire and Hey Ma all made the top 10, with two more, Wah Wah and Pleased To Meet You only just missing out, reaching number 11 in the charts.

And they are currently riding high in the charts again with their new album Girl At The End Of The World and their new single. Nothing But Love.

Music in the Gardens started life 12 years ago as one night of jazz in a marquee.

It has now grown into a major fund-raiser for local charities, raising more than £250,000 since it began.

Totally run and operated by Rotarians, Music in the Gardens has become a staple in the Sheffield Arts calendar.

Andrew Bates, one of the event’s organisers, said: “The appearance of James is a major deal for Music in the Gardens

“We have staged some great acts over the years but James has to be our best catch to date.

“We will ensure the gig is remembered for years to come as a classic event”.

James will be followed by another big name on July 1 when The Feeling headline.

The Feeling had the accolade of being one of the most played groups on Radio One with songs like Never Be Lonely, Sewn and Fill My Little World .

Their instantly recognisable hits are certain crowd-pleasers and their pop-rock melodic style is perfect for the Music in the Gardens four-night concert series.

On July 2, the headliners are a band who have sold more than 70 miliion albums and are part of the soundtrack to most music fans’ lives – UB40.

Featuring five of the original members from the classic 1980s line-up, they will chill the gardens with hits like Reds Red Wine and Kingston Town.

No music in the Gardens would be complete without the Last Night in the Gardens concert featuring The Unite The Union Brass Band and the Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Gardens will reverberate to stirring brass and strings with a good old flag-waving sing along with one of Sheffield’s most spectacular fireworks displays to finish off the four days of top-drawer concerts.

More details are available at the website at www.musicinthegardens.co.uk

Tickets are also available now at www.sivtickets.com