Singleton Park is preparing to welcome some of the biggest names in music once again, with Simply Red announced as the first headline act for a new series of outdoor concerts taking place next summer.
The internationally successful band, fronted by Mick Hucknall, will perform at the park on Friday, 20 August 2027, as part of their Summer Funk '27 UK and European tour.
The concert will be Simply Red's only performance in Wales during 2027 and will also feature special guests Lisa Stansfield and Heather Small, the former lead singer of M People.
The announcement marks the launch of Singleton Live, a new series of major concerts being organised by DEPOT Live, Full Fat 360 and Cuffe & Taylor in partnership with Swansea Council.
Organisers have promised a programme of high-profile artists, with every headline act announced for the series set to perform exclusively in Swansea during their Welsh appearances.
Simply Red, who celebrated their 40th anniversary with a sold-out tour in 2025, are among Britain's most successful bands, having achieved five UK number-one albums and numerous hit singles since forming in Manchester in 1985.
Their best-known songs include Holding Back the Years, If You Don't Know Me by Now, Stars, Fairground and Something Got Me Started. Their 1991 album Stars became the best-selling album in Britain and Europe for two consecutive years.
Joining them on the Singleton Park stage will be Lisa Stansfield, whose hits include All Around the World, Change and All Woman, alongside Heather Small, best known for her distinctive vocals on M People's Moving On Up, One Night in Heaven and the solo anthem Proud.
Speaking about the upcoming tour, Mick Hucknall said the band was looking forward to returning to the road and performing at some of Britain's most impressive outdoor venues.
"We can't wait to get back out on the road again in summer 2027 to perform at some incredible and historic venues across the UK and Europe," he said.
Nick Saunders, founder of DEPOT Live, described Simply Red as an ideal choice to launch the new Swansea concert series, saying the organisers were particularly pleased to have secured the band's only Welsh performance of the year.
For Singleton Park, the announcement marks another chapter in a long association with live music.
Over the years, the park has hosted performances by Stereophonics, Madness, Nile Rodgers and Chic, Catfish and the Bottlemen, and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.
Perhaps most memorably, Singleton Park hosted BBC Music's The Biggest Weekend in May 2018, when tens of thousands of music fans descended on Swansea for performances by international stars including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Florence and the Machine.
The new Singleton Live series is intended to build on that reputation, bringing major touring artists back to Swansea and attracting visitors from across Wales and beyond.
Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart welcomed the announcement, saying the return of large-scale concerts would help strengthen Swansea's position as a destination for music and entertainment.
The council has also confirmed that a proportion of the fees paid by concert promoters will be reinvested in grassroots music venues, with the intention of supporting smaller venues and emerging artists across the city.
For residents in Sketty, Brynmill and neighbouring communities, the return of major concerts to Singleton Park will bring the excitement of live music considerably closer to home.
Large events at the park can also bring increased traffic, parking pressures and noise to surrounding residential streets, particularly around Mumbles Road, Sketty Lane and the roads bordering the park.
With further concerts expected to be announced, residents will understandably be interested in how the events are managed and what arrangements will be made to minimise disruption.
Detailed traffic management arrangements, road closures and performance finishing times have not yet been announced for the Simply Red concert.
Tickets for the show are already on sale, with general admission standing tickets currently listed at £71.90 through Ticketmaster.
A premium ticket option, known as The Garden, is also available for £109.25, offering access to an exclusive area close to the stage, with its own bar, food facilities and toilets.
Event parking can be booked separately, with standard car parking currently advertised at £15 per vehicle.
The concert is listed as beginning at 5pm, although the individual performance times have yet to be confirmed.
Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult, and accessible facilities will be available for eligible visitors, including accessible viewing areas and assistance for those requiring an essential companion.
Further headline acts are expected to be revealed as preparations for Singleton Live continue.
For those who remember the crowds and atmosphere of previous concerts at the park, the announcement will be welcome news. It also provides an opportunity for a new generation to experience major live music in one of Swansea's most familiar green spaces.
And with more acts still to be announced, it seems Singleton Park could be in for a particularly lively summer in 2027.
Tickets and further information are available through the official Singleton Live website and Ticketmaster.
