The Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft is the first act to be announced for next summer’s Nocturne Live concert series.

Ashcroft, whose album Urban Hymns remains one of the best-selling in UK history, will perform at the five-night concert series at Blenheim Palace in West Oxfordshire supported by Lightning Seeds and The Zutons. 

The Verve were one of the biggest rock bands of the 90s with Urban Hymns spawning hit singles Bitter Sweet Symphony and Lucky Man while The Drugs Don’t Work became one of the defining releases of the decade.

READ MORE: Scaffolding goes up at dangerous building

Since The Verve disbanded in 1999, he has released seven UK top five albums and a string of hit singles including A Song For The Lovers from 2000’s Alone With Everybody, and Break The Night With Colour from 2006’s Keys To The World.

He has received Ivor Novello Awards for Songwriter of the Year and Outstanding Contribution to British Music.

Lead singer and songwriter Ian Broudie will be at the helm of Lightning Seeds who will perform hits including The Life of Riley, Change and their 1996 smash Three Lions.

They perform at Blenheim Palace in celebration of their 35th anniversary.

Meanwhile The Zutons are a multi-platinum-selling Liverpool band best-known for their smash hit singles Why Won’t You Give Me Your Love? and Valerie - a huge international hit which reached even greater heights when covered by Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse. 

The band recently released The Big Decider, their first new album in 16 years which was produced by Nile Rodgers and the band’s original producer Ian Broudie, and charted in the UK Top 10.

Nocturne Live transforms Blenheim Palace’s Great Court into a spectacular 10,000-capacity open-air concert venue and since its inception in 2015 has gone on to become one of the UK’s most popular stately home concert experiences.

READ MORE: GBH arrest following row over car accident

Over the years the series has presented shows from a host of huge international stars including the likes of Lionel Ritchie, Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Nile Rodgers, Lauryn Hill, Noel Gallagher, Gregory Porter, Van Morrison, Tears for Fears, Gladys Knight, Elvis Costello, Simple Minds and Ennio Morricone among many others.

Nocturne Live 2025 runs from Wednesday June 18 - Sunday June 22, 2025. Tickets for Richard Ashcroft, Lightning Seeds and The Zutons start at £54 and go on sale at 9am this Friday October 25 from nocturnelive.com

Pre-sale is available to those signed up to the Nocturne Live mailing list and begins at 9am tomorrow (Tuesday, October 22).

More acts will be announced in due course.