Tom Jones at Scarborough Open Air Theatre: tickets for a night of soul, pop classics and iconic vocals

Tom Jones brings six decades of songs to the North Sea coast

Tom Jones performs at Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Sunday, 26 July 2026, with the music programme beginning at 19:00. The concert brings together one of the most recognisable voices in British popular music and Scarborough's open-air amphitheatre, in a town on the North Sea coast. Stone Foundation, an eight-piece soul group whose full-band sound provides a natural introduction to Jones's repertoire, will also perform on the same evening.

This is not a concert that can be reduced to nostalgia alone. Jones's audience comes for songs that have long since become part of pop culture, but his more recent performances also reveal another side: darker interpretations, blues, soul, gospel, country and carefully selected covers by writers such as Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Cat Stevens, Ry Cooder and Prince. It is precisely this breadth that makes his present-day concert interesting both to people who know every chorus and to visitors who want to hear him as a mature interpreter.

Tickets for this event are currently on sale.

A voice that crosses genre boundaries

Tom Jones began his career in the clubs of South Wales and achieved his international breakthrough in the mid-1960s. His baritone has remained the defining feature of songs that move between pop, soul, rhythm and blues, country, rock and dance music. "It's Not Unusual" brought him global recognition, "What's New Pussycat?" became an enduring pop standard, while "Delilah" and "Green, Green Grass of Home" became songs that audiences often take over in collective singing.

An important part of his identity is not only the power of his voice, but the way he turns someone else's song into his own story. This can be heard in his version of Prince's "Kiss", in the blues-oriented approach to "You Can Leave Your Hat On" and in later interpretations of compositions dealing with transience, memory and ageing. As a result, the same concert programme can contain seductive funk, orchestral pop, a stripped-back ballad and a gospel finale while still sounding like a connected whole.

The current phase of his career is not merely a look backwards

The most recent studio album, "Surrounded By Time", was released in 2021 and provides an important key to understanding the Tom Jones of today. Recorded in collaboration with producer Ethan Johns, the album does not attempt to imitate the sound of his early hits. Instead, it places the voice at the centre of slower, atmospheric and often introspective arrangements. Songs such as "I'm Growing Old", "I Won't Crumble with You If You Fall" and "Talking Reality Television Blues" speak from the perspective of a performer who does not hide time, but uses it as part of the interpretation.

At recent concerts, songs of precisely this kind have provided a counterbalance to the major hits. The audience is first given space for silence and concentrated listening, after which recognisable introductions trigger loud reactions and collective singing. Scarborough Open Air Theatre highlights "It's Not Unusual", "What's New Pussycat?", "Delilah" and "Green, Green Grass of Home" in its announcement, but this does not mean that a complete running order has been published. The set list, the duration of individual sections and any possible changes remain matters for the performance itself.

What a Tom Jones concert looks like today

Reports from his more recent performances describe a programme with a clear dramatic arc. Concerts have sometimes begun in a restrained manner with "I'm Growing Old", "Tower of Song" and "Not Dark Yet", before the band increases the tempo and introduces the classics. The later part of the evening often brings "Sexbomb", "Kiss", "Delilah" and "Green, Green Grass of Home", together with less expected choices such as "Lazarus Man" or "This Is the Sea". These are examples from previous performances, not confirmation of the repertoire for Scarborough.

Such an approach suits an audience that expects more from a concert than a reproduction of old studio recordings. Familiar songs receive new arrangements: the rhythm may be slower, the guitars and keyboards more prominent, and the vocal phrasing freer. Jones does not rely solely on choruses that everyone knows. A large part of the impression is created in the transitions between songs, in short stories and in the contrast between his calm stage presence and the band's full sound.

• Long-standing fans can expect a cross-section of the key periods of his career, but not necessarily a chronological programme.
• Fans of soul, blues and rhythm and blues will receive more than a conventional pop concert.
• A broader audience will recognise the major choruses, even if they are unfamiliar with the deeper parts of the discography.
• Visitors who appreciate interpretation and lyrics should pay attention to the newer, slower songs and covers.

Stone Foundation as the introduction to the evening

Stone Foundation performs before Tom Jones. It is an eight-piece British group that builds its sound around soul, funk, brass instruments, a rhythm section and multi-part vocals. Their last four studio albums entered the top 40 of the British albums chart, and in their current phase the band is also presenting its eleventh studio album, "The Revival Of Survival".

Their performance is not merely a brief filler before the main artist. The full line-up, prominent rhythm section and soul tradition fit naturally with the musical language that has defined a large part of Jones's career. This also means that it is worth arriving before the beginning of the main part of the programme. The exact stage time for each artist may change, so the schedule should be checked once more immediately before arrival.

An open-air amphitheatre where the stage is not a distant point

Scarborough Open Air Theatre was built in Northstead Manor Gardens and first opened in 1932. After closing in 1986, it underwent a major renovation and resumed operations in 2010. Part of the lake in front of the stage was later redesigned, and in 2017 the capacity was increased from 5,454 to 8,500 visitors. The local authority describes it as a medium-sized venue that attracts performers accustomed to arenas.

That scale of space is important to the experience. The concert has the energy of a major summer production, but the audience is not spread across an enormous stadium. The amphitheatre's slope directs the view towards the stage, while the historic layout beside the lake gives the venue a different feeling from a temporary festival field. The open-air location, however, means that sound and comfort also depend on the weather. Visitors should allow for an evening drop in temperature, wind from the coast or rain.

The concert takes place outdoors and continues in the rain unless conditions become dangerous. Umbrellas are not permitted because they obstruct the view, so a lightweight waterproof jacket and layered clothing are more practical choices. Visitors may not bring their own chairs into the venue, and re-entry is not permitted after leaving.

It is worth securing tickets in good time and then planning the visit as a complete evening, not merely as the moment when the main artist comes on stage.

Scarborough as a concert destination

Scarborough is a historic coastal town in North Yorkshire, known for its two bays, cliffs, castle and long tradition of summer visits. Open Air Theatre is located on the northern side of the town, near Peasholm Park and North Bay. For travellers staying overnight, this makes it easy to combine the concert with a coastal walk, a visit to the park or a trip to the old town centre.

The Scarborough date forms part of Tom Jones's busy summer schedule. On his calendar, this performance comes after Halifax and before Lucca, Madrid, Málaga, London, Dublin and Belfast. Scarborough is therefore one of the stops between the British and continental parts of the summer performances, rather than an isolated one-off date. For audiences from the north of England and travellers combining the concert with a short stay on the coast, it is a practical opportunity to see him in an open-air venue rather than an indoor arena.

Arrival, entrances and the end of the programme

The venue's address is Burniston Road, Scarborough, YO12 6PF. The gates open at 18:00, the music programme is expected to begin at 19:00, and the event is planned to finish no later than 22:30. The organiser warns that times may change, so it is useful to check the final information before setting off. Arriving earlier makes the security check easier and leaves enough time to find a place and purchase food and drink.

Several car parks are available around the northern part of the town. Among the larger ones are Marine and Royal Albert Drive, with 794 spaces, and Northstead Upper, with 556 spaces, while Northstead Lower is considerably smaller and closer to the entrance. After the concert, part of Burniston Road is temporarily closed to allow the audience to leave safely, so drivers should expect diversions and a slower departure.

Scarborough Station is the nearest railway station, and the walk to the venue takes approximately 30 minutes. Taxi ranks and passenger drop-off and pick-up points are located at Peasholm Gap, around a five-minute walk from the entrance. After concerts, buses also depart from the same location towards South Bay and the town centre.

• Arrive early because of bag checks and possible queues at the entrances.
• Backpacks and bags larger than A4 size are not permitted.
• One sealed bottle of water of up to 500 ml or one empty reusable bottle per person is permitted.
• Food, drink and merchandise outlets operate without cash.
• Umbrellas, personal chairs, professional photographic equipment, detachable lenses and selfie sticks are not permitted.

Venue accessibility

The venue has step-free access, a raised platform for visitors who use wheelchairs or require accessible seating, accessible toilets and lower service counters at some of the bars. The entrance for visitors with accessible tickets is located at South Gate. British Sign Language interpreters are also planned for performances in the 2026 season, and induction loops should be available at several locations.

There is no on-site parking for the audience. Northstead Lower is recommended for visitors who require the shortest possible access route and is approximately 50 metres from the entrance. Because the number of spaces is limited and they are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, arriving early is particularly important. For specific requirements, medical bags or larger pieces of equipment, the accessibility team must be contacted in advance.

What to bring for a summer evening outdoors

The most useful preparation is not complicated: a small bag, a waterproof outer layer, additional lightweight clothing for the later part of the evening and a card or digital means of payment. A summer day on the coast may be sunny, while wind and a lower temperature can be felt after sunset. Sunscreen may be useful when arriving early, but for the later part of the programme, rain protection that does not obstruct other people's view is more important.

Food and drink are available inside the venue, and free water refills are provided on site. People with medical or special dietary requirements can request advance permission to bring in the necessary food or drink. Medication may be brought in, preferably in its original packaging with the prescription label visible.

Sources:
- Scarborough Open Air Theatre - concert date and time, announced songs, Stone Foundation and basic event information
- TomJones.com - biography, performance schedule, the album "Surrounded By Time" and reports from more recent concerts
- Cuffe & Taylor Help Centre - opening time, end of the programme, entry rules, weather conditions, travel and accessibility
- North Yorkshire Council - history of the venue, renovation, capacity and development of the concert location
- Stone Foundation - line-up, album phase and information about the British charts
- Visit North Yorkshire - location of the town, North Bay, South Bay, Scarborough Castle and Peasholm Park