You're Beautiful singer James Blunt to headline Audley End

Singer James Blunt will perform at Audley End next summer as the Heritage Live concert series returns.

The 46-year-old musician and songwriter will take to the stage in the grounds of the Jacobean mansion on Friday August 13, 2021, as part of his Once Upon A Mind Tour.

Special guests for the evening will be Craig Charles' Funk & Soul Show and the Hackney Colliery Band.

Since emerging with 2005's biggest-selling UK album Back to Bedlam, bolstered by the success of the single You're Beautiful, which went on to become No 1 worldwide, Blunt has become one of Britain's most popular solo artists.

There have been five more albums since, including his most recent, last year's Once Upon A Mind, which saw him return to the classic singer-songwriter style.

Having worked with the likes of Ed Sheeran and selling over 20 million albums worldwide, the former reconnaissance officer in the Life Guards regiment of the British Army, who served during the 1999 Kosovo War, has also received multiple Grammy nominations and two BRIT Awards.

Red Dwarf and Coronation Street actor Craig Charles has cemented himself as one of the UK's most beloved funk and soul DJs.

With his BBC Radio 6 Music prime-time Saturday evening show he delivers the classic sounds of the 1960s and '70s as well as introducing audiences to the freshest artists in the genre.

Craig has entertained crowds throughout the UK, having performed his set at festivals such as Love Box, Park Life, Festival No 6, Wychwood Festival, Common People, Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul festival. In 2016 he played to over 10,000 people at the world-famous Arcadia and Shangri-La stage in Glastonbury.

Hackney Colliery Band have been described by BBC Radio 2 as "one of the greatest live bands that we have in this country" . With five albums to their name, including 2019's Collaborations: Volume One which included collaborations with jazz and world music stars including Angelique Kidjo and Mulatu Astatke, the band have gone from strength to strength since their creation more than 10 years ago.

Their characteristic sound fuses brass, percussion and electronics to create a highly original mix. It is this sound that has wowed audiences the world over, including sell-out shows at Barbican Hall and Koko, as well as high-profile festival appearances including Field Day, Love Supreme, WOMAD and Glastonbury.

For tickets and other information, see Ticketmaster.co.uk . Hospitality packages are available.