Pop icon Lionel Richie has announced plans for a huge outdoor show in Perth.
The American singer, best known for hits including Hello, Dancing on the Ceiling and All Night Long, will perform to thousands at St Johnstone’s McDiarmid Park stadium this summer.
The news comes on a day of high-profile concert announcements in Perth. It has also been revealed that Noel Gallagher will play at Scone Palace in on May 25/26 as part of the BBC Music’s The Biggest Weekend.
Richie’s Perth appearance will be the only Scottish date on his upcoming UK tour.
Richie, who has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, is the biggest star to play McDiarmid since Rocket Man Elton John more than a decade ago.
The show, on Sunday, June 3, promises a hit-packed set spanning Richie’s career from his early Motown days as part of the Commodores.
Richie became a household name in the 1980s, but saw his career reinvigorated after a televised Glastonbury Festival performance in 2015.
The Pyramid Stage show attracted the biggest crowd of the weekend, about 200,000 people, and helped put Richie’s Definitive Collection album to the top of the charts – his first UK number one in 23 years.
Richie said: “I’ve been missing the UK and can’t wait to make my long-awaited return and to see parts of the country I’ve never made it out to before.”
Delighted to announce the incredible @LionelRichie brings #AlltheHitsUK here on 3rd June. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10amhttps://t.co/iOLthHMWVy pic.twitter.com/4MJ7O6c1SB
— St. Johnstone FC (@StJohnstone) January 30, 2018
He added: “The fans are always incredible and they make the atmosphere at every show electric, so I look forward to singing along with them soon.”
The gig is expected to deliver a massive boost to the local economy, particularly the city’s hotels, restaurants and bars.
Around 16,000 fans flocked to McDiarmid Park for Elton John’s show in 2008, generating a £50,000 windfall for the club.
Richie’s summer tour – taking in venues at Northhampton, London, Scarborough and Chesterfeild – marks a return to the UK since launching his Las Vegas residency show in 2016.
He also recently appeared as a judge on US TV’s American Idol.
Tickets for the gig will go on sale online at 10am on Friday, February 2.
