Pop icon Rick Astley heading to north Wales for headline show

One of the UK’s best-loved pop stars, Rick Astley, is heading to north Wales for a joyous headline show next summer.

The Never Gonna Give You Up hitmaker will headline TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion on Wednesday June 24, where he will be joined on the night by special guests Lottery Winners.

Rick Astley leapt to fame in 1987 with the era-defining smash single Never Gonna Give You Up, followed by hits including Together Forever and Whenever You Need Somebody.

After stepping away from the spotlight for several years, audiences in Llangollen were treated to a special night in 2011 when he performed during the opening of that year’s Eisteddfod. Then in 2016, he celebrated his 50th birthday with a triumphant return to the top of the charts with his hit album ’50’.

And the singer, songwriter and producer has stayed at the top of his game ever since, enjoying collaborations with the likes of Foo Fighters and Blossoms, sets at Glastonbury, and a number two chart position for the 2023 album Are We There Yet? – contributing to more than 40 million record sales worldwide.

Joining him in Llangollen will be indie pop band Lottery Winners. Earlier this year the band racked up their second Number 1 album with the release of KOKO.

The band have performed some of their biggest headline shows to date this year, and they also spent the summer on the road supporting Robbie Williams on his UK and Europe stadium tour.

Rick Astley joins Deacon Blue, Alex James’ Britpop Classical, Tom Grennan, Billy Ocean, Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics and David Gray among the headline announcements revealed so far for TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion 2026, which is presented as part of an ongoing partnership with the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Dave Danford said: “We can’t wait to welcome Rick Astley back to Llangollen next summer, returning for the first time in 15 years.

“There’s something truly special about live music in our incredible setting. It’s the perfect backdrop for a night of timeless hits, and when you add a hugely popular performer with a world-class band to that mix you know you are guaranteed a brilliant night of live music, with some humour thrown in for good measure!

“Llangollen has always been a place where music connects people, and Rick’s return will be another unforgettable moment in that tradition.”

Friends of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod can access pre-sale tickets from 10am tomorrow via llangollen.net and tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday.