Van Morrison, and Gregory Porter for Nocturne at Blenheim Palace

Nocturne at Blenheim Palace 2015

Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th June 2015
Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP, England MAP
£60, £80, and £125

Van Morrison, and Gregory Porter are the first names to be announced for the first night of Nocturne at Blenheim Palace, a new concert series which will take place in Blenheim Palace's Great Court with the pair confirmed to appear on the opening night on Thursday 25th June 2015.

Nocturne will be the first concerts held there for a decade, although wakeboarding festival Wakestock was also held at Blenheim briefly in 2008.

The 12^th Duke of Marlborough said, "I look forward to once again opening the gates of Blenheim Palace to these brilliant musicians and singers. The palace was meant to inspire as a location and the music in the Great Court will bring a new dimension of wonderment to our family’s history."

Nocturne at Blenheim Palace will also provide champagne receptions, fine-dining and banquet packages available inside the State Rooms (including the Long Library) of the 12th Duke of Marlborough’s family home, The Orangery and waterside picnicking.

Tickets prices have not yet been announced, tickets go on sale on Friday 13th February and eFestivals will have links to buy them then then.

Nocturne at Blenheim Palace is the first joint venture from Neapolitan Live Events, the creators of Love Supreme Jazz Festival, and U-Live the new live music division of Universal Music Group. Signed in 2015 the five-year deal with Blenheim Palace, sees an investment of £2.5million to bring live music back to the historic Oxfordshire venue.

Ciro Romano, Neapolitan Live Events said, "It is a huge honour to be entrusted by the Duke of Marlborough to bring music back to this unique palace. We are thrilled that we have secured Van Morrison to return to Blenheim Palace for the first time since his historic performance in 2004 and also Gregory Porter whose career I have personally followed since first seeing him perform in small clubs in London only a few year ago. Both acts perfectly realise our vision to bring the greatest talent to Britain’s greatest palace."

Sally Davies at U-Live added, "Our team at U-Live have been searching for the perfect venue and partner for the best quality music experience. Blenheim Palace and our partnership with Neapolitan Live realises the ambition. Nocturne will be a spectacular series of evenings of stunning performances in the most beautiful location."

Blenheim Palace is set in 2100 acres of 'Capability' Brown landscaped parkland in the heart of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. The 300 year old palace is a World Heritage site located 8 miles out of Oxford.

Details of a special bus service to and from Oxford Station to the Palace to be announced soon.

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