POP legend Rick Astley has been confirmed for next year’s Eden Sessions, playing a show in front of the world-famous Eden Project Biomes on July 3, 2024.

Special guests for the evening will be Liverpool indie pop heroes The Lightning Seeds.

Rick Astley’s story is a remarkable career of two chapters. In 1987, he became an unlikely global phenomenon as his era-defining smash Never Gonna Give You Up established him as an international chart-topping, BRIT Award-winning global star.

This status was heightened by further hits such as Together Forever and Whenever You Need Somebody.

After stepping away from the spotlight, Rick’s second chapter started when he celebrated his half-century by returning to the top of the charts with 2016’s 50.

 The somehow still boyish singer, songwriter and producer has stayed at the top of his game ever since, leading to collaborations with everyone from Foo Fighters to Blossoms, this summer’s show-stealing double-bill of festival sets at Glastonbury, and a number two chart position for his new album Are We There Yet?.

 Rick has had six UK top-ten albums and eight top-ten singles. Never Gonna Give You Up – his debut single and first number one – has been viewed more than 1.5bn times on YouTube and is central to the “Rickrolling” meme.

Rick was named Best Act Ever at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, beating legendary artists including Britney Spears, U2 and Green Day.

The Lightning Seeds were formed by vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and producer Ian Broudie and are responsible for some of the most recognisable tunes of the nineties, including Pure, The Life of Riley and Lucky You.

 In 1996, they teamed up with comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner to record the anthemic Three Lions as the official song of the England football team’s Euro ’96 campaign. The song topped the UK charts on release and then again in 1998 (with an adapted version recorded for that year’s World Cup) and 2018.

Rita Broe said: “It’s fantastic to be welcoming two such well-loved artists as Rick Astley and The Lightning Seeds to the Eden Sessions.

“Rick’s appeal spans generations – from the millions who bought Never Gonna Give You Up when it was released to the huge Glastonbury crowds enraptured by his wonderful performances this summer - and The Lightning Seeds have gifted us some of the most recognisable anthems of recent decades. It will be a magical evening here at Eden and we really can’t wait.”

Tickets for Rick Astley and The Lightning Seeds at the Eden Sessions on July 3, 2024 cost £56 plus £7.30 booking fee and are available through www.edensessions.com. Tickets are now on sale to Inside Track pass-holders. The general ticket sale is at 4pm on Monday, December 11.

Rick Astley and The Lightning Seeds is the sixth show to be announced for the 2024 Eden Sessions. Already confirmed acts for next summer’s Sessions are Crowded House (June 12), Fatboy Slim (June 15 – sold out), Suede and Manic Street Preachers (June 29), The National (July 2) and JLS (July 13). More artists will be announced soon.