Tom Jones, James, Avril Lavigne and more to perform as headliners at Bedford Summer Sessions. A fantastic line up, these acts will be joined by a high calibre of support acts. Info and tickets here

See James like they have never been seen before with a 22 piece orchestra. This will truly be a treat! For people who haven’t quite found the love for classical music, this will be a great way to experience the beauty of classical instruments playing James fans best songs.

James is set to delight Bedford Park with their classic tracks brought to life in a way never heard before on Saturday 6 July. In 2023, James marked 40 years with the release of ‘Be Opened By The Wonderful’, an album showcasing 20 of their rarest, as well as most loved tracks, re-imagined with the 22-piece, Orca22 Orchestra and 8-piece, Manchester Inspirational Voices Choir. The trio will unite once again, led by composer and conductor Joe Duddell to captivate the audience at Bedford Summer Sessions. Fans can anticipate a transformative musical experience, where timeless James hits, such as “Sit Down” and “Laid” will be elevated by dynamic layers of orchestral and choral additions. Joining James will be Johnny Marr and Folk-Rock group The Magic Numbers. The Magic Numbers will be warming fans up with their hits such as I See you, You See Me, Love Me Like You and more!

The enduring musical talent of Tom Jones will charm fans at Bedford Summer Sessions on Thursday 4 July. The Welsh singing legend has been captivating audiences worldwide with his powerful voice and charisma for over six decades. Penning timeless classics including “It’s Not Unusual”, “She’s A Lady” and “Sexbomb”, selling more than 100 million records and continuing as an esteemed and influential figure in the music industry. Sir Tom’s career has been filled with numerous honours and accolades, including a deeply cherished knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2006, multiple BRIT Awards, a Silver Clef Award, the Music Industry Trusts Award and a Hitmaker Award.

“We are honoured and thrilled to announce that the legendary Tom Jones and the iconic band James, with their orchestral collaboration, will be headlining Bedford Summer Sessions. Tom Jones, bringing his Welsh charm and unforgettable hits, and James, with their unique orchestral reimagination of classic tracks, both promise to offer truly captivating experiences” commented Peter Taylor, Co-Founder, Cuffe and Taylor “We can’t wait for local and visiting fans to experience the magic of Tom Jones and James in the unique setting that Bedford Park offers.”

On Saturday 29 June, Avril Lavigne (who we still think will make a killer country album if she ever decided to) will be making her ONLY South of England headline show in Bedford.

Avril Lavigne has some of the most iconic songs such as Complicated, Sk8ter Boi, I’m With You and more. This for many will be a moment fans have waited for since her debut album! Avril is bound to put on a great show which will be fun, engaging and full of epic sing-along moments that fans will remember for years to come.

Avril will be joined by Lottery Winners and phem.

This latest update feeds into the unmissable line-up of global superstars headlining the Summer Sessions series, including Tom Jones, James, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Jess Glynne and DJ Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics, across June and July 2024. All tickets, including Weekend Passes, are available via smmrsessions.com / ticketmaster.co.uk.

Summer Sessions is a vibrant music festival series that has delighted audiences across Scotland since its inception by DF Concerts in 2013. Founded in Glasgow and expanded to Edinburgh in 2018, Summer Sessions has become a staple in the summer events calendar. This annual event is renowned for its star-studded lineups, featuring some of the world’s most iconic musical acts, spanning various genres. It is a must-attend for music lovers of all tastes. With a commitment to delivering unforgettable live music experiences in the heart of the UK’s most vibrant cities, Summer Sessions is now poised for further expansion, teaming up with Cuffe & Taylor to bring the magic of live music to additional cities across the UK.

Music fans will not want to miss these unforgettable nights of live performances and can follow @smmrsessions for updates across more shows to be announced.

With such a stellar lineup, the inaugural TK Maxx presents Bedford Summer Sessions promises to be an unforgettable series of shows, bringing together a diverse range of musical talents and offering something for every music lover. Follow @smmrsessions and visit smmrsessions.com for ticketing details and updates.