Live music will return to the grounds of Ripley Castle as lockdown restrictions begin to ease.

Sounds in the Grounds will see performances from bands including the Bootleg Beatles, Beyond the Barricade and Abba Mania.

Taking place over four days, it will see the New York Brass Band perform each night as the support act to the main performance.

Tickets include a designated picnic patch for up to six people, enabling social distancing across the site, and there will be food and drink stalls available. Each will be defined by painted lines, with a metre’s distance between each patch and two metres’ distance in aisles between the rows.

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Organiser James Cundall said:

“Sounds in the Grounds offers the opportunity to get together and enjoy a fun night of live music in a stunning setting in a socially distanced way. From ABBA to The Beatles and from the greatest musicals to Country and Western I hope we have something for everyone.

“Importantly it’s an opportunity for musicians to showcase their talent again after weeks of inactivity during lockdown.

“Visitors will need to bring their own chairs, and can bring a picnic, though we advise leaving tables at home for space reasons.”

Sounds in the Grounds will take place at Ripley Castle from Thursday, September 3 to Sunday, September 6. Tickets cost from £59 plus booking fees for a two-person picnic patch.

An open top bus has brought live music to the streets of Harrogate today.

New York Brass Band was touring the town thanks to a collaboration with Harrogate International Festivals.

The band – which regularly performs around the UK and has played Glastonbury in the past – is known for its engaging style and interactive performances. Its music had shoppers dancing in the streets this morning.

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New York Brass Band by the war memorial

Meanwhile, HIF said its digital material has gained a worldwide following since lockdown began. More than 6,000 hours of podcasts, featuring top musicians, authors  and inspirational speakers, have been listened to by audiences  around the world, including Finland, Australia and New Zealand.

HIFAtHome combines archive recordings with resources for families, giving a virtual festival experience with highlights from previous live events.

HIF chief executive Sharon Canavar said:

“Since our first Festival in 1966, our mission has been to promote the arts – and despite the cancellation of our entire summer programme, 2020 won’t be an exception!

“With HIFAtHome we are able to continue with our goal to deliver the very best in the arts. Instead of simply shutting down, or bemoaning our festival position and lack of income, we have harnessed the creativity and agility we are famed for.

“We have spun on a pin to ensure that we can still create and deliver both with artists and for audiences, and the result has been to bring Harrogate International Festivals to life, digitally. At the click of a mouse button, you can now access new commissions and exciting projects, together with looking back at some of the highlights of the last few years.

“The arts is worldwide and people are craving the arts to help make sense of the world right now.”

HIF is now preparing for four days of music performances and star interviews from Thursday, July 23. It will begin with the announcement of the winner of the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel on the Year – usually the popular opening ceremony to the crime writing festival, which draws authors and fans from around the world.