Chart-topping band Girls Aloud will launch this year's two-night summer open-air concerts at Holkham Hall on August 31, joined by Shayne Ward and Jamelia. Legendary rockers Status Quo take to the stage on the following day.

Chart-topping band Girls Aloud will launch this year's two-night summer open-air concerts at Holkham

Hall.

The group reached number one in the record charts last week with their Comic Relief collaboration with Sugababes, Walk This Way, and will appear at Holkham on Friday, August 31 with Shayne Ward, from television show The X Factor, and singer-songwriter Jamelia.

Then on Saturday, September 1, legendary rockers Status Quo will take to the stage.

Both concerts will end with firework displays.

Girls Aloud shot to fame in 2002 and hold the record for the number of top ten and top five singles achieved by an all-female group.

This is the second year that Viscount Coke has opened the gates of his family's Palladian stately home near Wells to the public.

The 2007 programme follows the success of last year's Holkham concerts, headlined by singing star José Carreras and rhythm 'n' blues maestro Jools Holland.

The Eastern Daily Press is a media sponsor for the concert evenings.

Lord Coke said last night: “We are thrilled to have such high-profile names coming to Holkham this

year.

“It is a very different line-up to last year, but we believe the contrast of the two evenings will appeal to a wide range of people and ages.

“The house provides a great backdrop and the park a natural amphitheatre.

“All this adds to the atmosphere and a great night out whether you picnic in style or purely come to rock the night away.”

Tickets for both performances cost £37.50, plus a booking fee.

They are available from tomorrow through the main ticket line on

0871 424 4444, from the Ancient House Gift Shop at Holkham or at Pinewoods Holiday Park, Wells (where no booking fee applies).

They are also available from Archant Norfolk offices at Millennium Plain (01603 877020) and Prospect House in Norwich (01603 772175); Church Street, Cromer (01263 513232); and Regent Street, Yarmouth (01493) 847940) (a booking fee applies at these centres), and online at www.edp24.uk.

VIP packages are also available. To find out more about these call 01328 713117.

See Friday's EDP2 for details of which top acts will take centre stage across East Anglia this summer.