SINGER and Strictly star Peter Andre is to kick off Southend's Priory Park concerts which are back for summer 2016,

Three consecutive nights of fabulous music, memories and more kick off on Friday, July 1 with Peter Andre performing his greatest hits, including the number one singles, Mysterious Girl, Flava and I Feel You.

He will be supported by Forever Jackson, the ultimate Michael Jackson experience. Paying true homage to the King of Pop, Forever Jackson uncannily reproduces the vocal tones, dance moves and mannerisms of Michael Jackson, whilst performing live.

Saturday, July 2 is all about classic soul music from the 70s and 80s. Appropriately dubbed the Soul-on-Soul night, headliners the Real Thing will be joined by Odyssey and Heatwave.

 The SOS Live Big Top will be turned into a giant jukebox of soul hits, with The Real Thing’s You To Me Are Everything, Can’t Get By With You and Can You Feel The Force, Odyssey’s Use It Up And Wear It Out, Going Back To My Roots and Inside Out, plus Heatwave’s disco classic Boogie Nights pumping up the volume.

From classic soul, funk and disco on Saturday, Sunday July 3, welcomes classics of a different nature. For lovers of classical music a Last Night of the Proms concert, given by the British Philharmonic Orchestra will be a wonderful experience.

A full, 45-piece orchestra featuring guest vocalists La Voce, Spanish tenor Antonio Perez Iranzo and other special guest stars will perform a series of favourite symphonies, movements and arias from the huge canon of classical music and opera.

Promoters GRT Concerts, from Southend, believe the series of concerts offers outstanding value for money and revitalises a Southend tradition, all in a unique setting.

“This is a really cost-effective way of seeing great, quality, world-class acts on your doorstep,” says GRT Concerts MD Pete Tobit.

He added: “Peter Andre recently announced a big tour for March 2016 and is playing the O2 Arena, where a decent ticket will set you back about £50, so our event is half the price with no additional travelling costs or time for local people. Plus we’re bringing back the much loved and sorely missed Priory Park concerts.”

There will also be fundraising for Help for Heroes during the concerts, which are being supported by Mercedes Benz of Southend.

General manager Simon Kempton said: “We are delighted to be supporting this fantastic new event as main sponsor and to help bring back the concerts in the park to Southend plus also raising funds for a great charity.”

Tickets are priced at just £30 (plus a booking fee) for Friday and £25 (plus a booking fee) for Saturday and Sunday. They are on sale at The Cliffs Pavilion from 9am on Friday 4th December with the Box Office number 01702 351135 and on line at www.southendtheatres.org.uk