Boyzone to return to Edinburgh Castle

One of the most successful boy bands of all time Boyzone are returning to Edinburgh Castle in one of a series of summer concerts announced for the Capital.

Shane Lynch; Mikey Graham; Keith Duffy and Ronan Keating of Boyzone in action. Picture: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images

The one-night-only event will be the first time the group have played Edinburgh since the sell-out success of their Castle concert in 2008.

Their July concert will be followed up by open-air shows in Princes Street Gardens during the Fringe from The Flaming Lips, The Waterboys and James.

Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Mikey Graham are hoping to rekindle some of the magic at the Castle on July 25.

“We have had a wonderful love affair with our Scottish fans over the past 20 years so we can’t wait to see them all again in the magnificent surroundings of Edinburgh Castle this summer,” said Ronan.

Tickets for the event are expected to sell fast when they are released on Friday. They are the second act confirmed for this year’s series of summer concerts at the historic venue, after Lionel Ritchie announced he was bringing his All The Hits All Night Long tour to the city on July 22.

Mark Mackie, director of Castle Concerts/Regular Music, said: “It is with real delight we are able to announce Boyzone as our second act to play Edinburgh Castle this July. Anyone who attended their sold-out concert there in 2008, will know we are in for a sensational evening.”

The concert comes on the success of their BZ20 album and BZ20 – The Anniversary Tour, and the release of Dublin To Detroit last November.

The Edinburgh audience will be treated to tracks from the new album as well as many of the boyz’ biggest hits, including Love me for a Reason, Baby Can I Hold You and, of course, No Matter What, from a 22-year career that includes eight albums and over 13 million record sales.

Nick Finnigan, executive manager at Edinburgh Castle said: “Historic Scotland are delighted to welcome Boyzone back to the esplanade. The combination of the Castle backdrop and the concerts create that magical, once-in-a-lifetime venue for the bands to play and the audiences to enjoy.”

The announcement came as a star-studded series of open-air concerts was confirmed for the Gardens in August.

The Flaming Lips, The Waterboys and James will all be appearing at the Ross Theatre after the “Magners Summer Nights” series of shows at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Bandstand was expanded to Edinburgh. They will be the first acts to perform outdoor shows in the venue in the Gardens during the Fringe for almost a decade.

Tickets for the Boyzone concert go on general public sale at 9am on Friday and will be available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk or by calling 0844 844 0444.

[email protected]