Final headliner announced for Kew the Music 2021: Van Morrison

Release date: 3 August 2020

  • The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew announce Van Morrison as the final headliner for Kew the Music 2021.
  • The acclaimed artist will be taking to the stage on Tuesday 6 July.

One of the world’s most celebrated and inspirational artists, Van Morrison is a bonafide music icon. His influence and legacy transcends generations. Among his many awards and accolades are 6 Grammys, a BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution To Music, an Ivor Novello, an OBE and a coveted knighthood. He is also the recipient of honorary doctorates from Queen’s University, Belfast and has been inducted into The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

Rising to fame in the early 60s as the lead singer of Irish R&B/rock band Them, Morrison became a runaway success with timeless classics including ‘Gloria’ and ‘Here Comes The Night’. He would later establish himself as a wildly successful solo artist, moving towards more experimental terrain releasing era-defining albums such as ‘Astral Winds’, ‘Moondance’ and ‘Tupelo Honey’.

Ever prolific and consistently hard-working, the songwriting legend that is Van Morrison has shown no sign of slowing down, continuing to record new material, collaborating with esteemed artists that include Bobby Womack, Gregory Porter, Mavis Staples and Michael Bublé, as well as performing across the globe.

Already announced headliners for Kew the Music 2021 are: James Blunt (7 July), DJ Spoony x Garage Classical (8 July), Will Young + James Morrison (9 July), Bananarama (10 July), Gipsy Kings (11 July).

Guests are welcome to bring their own food and drink, or to enjoy refreshments at the open-air bars and tasty street food stalls. For music lovers of all generations, a sensational summer awaits.

For exclusive BBQ/VIP Hospitality dining experiences visit kewthemusic.org. Ready-made Picnic Hampers are available to collect on the night.

Tickets and booking information:

General On Sale: 10am Friday 7 August

Go to kewthemusic.org for full event and ticket information.

Tickets from £47 (varying per show). Booking fees apply.

24-hour ticket hotline: 0844 871 8803 or book online at kewthemusic.org

Discount for children (aged 1-16) is from £18 (varying per show).

Under 12 months free entry and no ticket required.

Disabled tickets: Carer goes free.

ENDS

Contact

For media enquiries, please contact Suzie Fellows at The Outside Organisation via email Suzie.fellows@outside-org.co.uk or phone 0207 436 3633.

Notes to Editors

About Kew the Music

Kew the Music won the prestigious “Tony Kane Cultural Experience of the Year” at the Time & Leisure Food & Culture 2018 Awards, cementing the glorious week-long summer picnic concerts as a highlight in the cultural calendar.

Gates open at 6.00pm. Nearest tube: Kew Gardens – District Line.

No seating is provided, but guests are welcome to bring blankets, folding chairs and picnics.

Kew the Music is a collaboration between Kilimanjaro Live Ltd, Raymond Gubbay Ltd and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have been presenting summer concerts for over 30 years.

About Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world-famous scientific organisation, internationally respected for its outstanding collections as well as its scientific expertise in plant diversity, conservation and sustainable development in the UK and around the world. Kew Gardens is a major international and a top London visitor attraction. Kew Gardens’ 132 hectares of landscaped gardens, and Wakehurst, Kew’s Wild Botanic Garden, attract over 2.5 million visits every year. Kew Gardens was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2003 and celebrated its 260th anniversary in 2019. Wakehurst is home to Kew's Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild plant seed bank in the world. RBG Kew receives approximately one third of its funding from the UK Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and research councils. Further funding needed to support RBG Kew’s vital work comes from donors, membership and commercial activity including ticket sales.

About Raymond Gubbay Limited, a division of Sony Music

Founded in 1966 by Raymond Gubbay, Raymond Gubbay Ltd, a division of Sony Music, is recognised as being at the forefront of promoting and producing popular shows, illuminated trails, classical concerts, opera, ballet and special events both in the United Kingdom and abroad.

In recent years, the company has forged successful and ongoing partnerships with the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Blenheim Palace, The National Trust, The Forestry Commission, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Botanic Gardens, Chicago, USA. In addition, the company annually co-promotes Kew the Music, a diverse series of summer picnic concerts.

In 1989, the company first staged Classical Spectacular®. The show has now played to an audience in excess of two million people globally. Combining great music with the latest technology and special effects has led the company on to other related productions including Space Spectacular®, John Williams Spectacular, Zimmer vs Williams and many more, working with some of the world’s most renowned orchestras including the UK’s Royal Philharmonic, Philharmonia, CBSO, RSNO and the Hallé.

Christmas concerts conceived by the company have become a festive tradition with performances at the Royal Festival Hall, Barbican and Cadogan Hall as well major concert halls across the country including Symphony Hall in Birmingham, The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester and the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow.

raymondgubbay.co.uk; Facebook @raymondgubbay; Twitter @raymondgubbay