Danny Rampling to Join Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics in Scarborough

Imagine the biggest, most anthemic dance tunes you’ve ever heard. Now, picture them being played by a full orchestra, under the stars, on a summer night by the sea. Sounds pretty special, right? Well, that exact experience is coming to the Yorkshire coast. The legendary DJ Pete Tong is bringing his world-famous Ibiza Classics show to Scarborough, and he’s not coming alone.

In a massive bit of news for dance music fans, it's just been announced that acid house pioneer Danny Rampling will be joining him for what promises to be an unforgettable night of music.

A proper Ibiza party lands in Scarborough

This isn't just a couple of DJs playing records. This is the full Ibiza Classics experience, a show that has sold out arenas and even the Royal Albert Hall. The whole idea is to take iconic dance tracks, the ones that defined a generation of clubbing in Ibiza, and give them a whole new life with the soaring power of The Essential Orchestra. Think of it like taking a brilliant sketch and turning it into a massive, colourful painting.

The show is set to take over the Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Friday, June 26th, bringing the unique sound and spirit of the White Isle to the beautiful Yorkshire coast. Getting two absolute giants of dance music, Pete Tong and Danny Rampling, on the same bill is a huge deal. It’s a night that will celebrate the past, present, and future of a music genre that has brought people together for decades.

So, who is this Pete Tong chap?

If you know anything about dance music, you know the name Pete Tong. For more than 30 years, he’s been a genuine pioneer of the scene. Many people first discovered electronic music through his iconic shows on BBC Radio 1, where he championed new tunes and artists, basically shaping the UK's taste in dance music for years. He’s the person who could make or break a track with just one play on his radio show. But he didn't stop there. He created the Ibiza Classics concept, a groundbreaking show that merges the worlds of classical and electronic music. It’s a project that has become a global phenomenon, allowing people to hear their favourite club anthems in a completely new way.

Last year, the show celebrated its 10th anniversary with a string of sold-out nights, proving just how powerful this fusion of sounds is. This summer’s Scarborough date will be a welcome return for Pete, who brought his sensational show to the same open air venue back in 2023.

And what about the special guest, Danny Rampling?

Calling Danny Rampling a DJ is a bit like calling Sir Isaac Newton a bloke who liked apples. He’s one of the original trailblazers, a true visionary who helped kickstart the entire UK rave movement back in the late 1980s. His legendary club night, 'Shoom', is the stuff of legend, a place where the acid house sound first took root and exploded into a cultural phenomenon. He was there right at the beginning. Before the superclubs and global festivals, there was Danny Rampling, shaping the sound in tiny, sweaty rooms. He was even crowned the Number One DJ in the very first DJ Mag Top 100 poll. As Ibiza became the world's clubbing capital, he was at the forefront, holding down residencies at iconic venues like Amnesia and Pacha. His influence on generations of clubbers and DJs is immense, and having him join the Ibiza Classics show adds another layer of authenticity and history to the event.

An absolutely massive summer of music on the Yorkshire coast

The Pete Tong and Danny Rampling show is a massive highlight, but it’s just one part of an absolutely jam-packed summer schedule at the Scarborough Open Air Theatre. The venue is hosting a seriously impressive line-up of artists from all sorts of genres. It shows just how important the Yorkshire coast has become as a destination for live music. Whether you're into rock, pop, soul, or dance music, there’s something for everyone. It's a real statement of intent for music in the region.

Just look at the variety of names heading to the open air stage:

• Paul Weller (June 12)

• Skunk Anansie & Garbage (June 20)

• Anastacia (June 21)

• Richard Ashcroft (June 27)

• Bastille (July 11)

• Teddy Swims (July 22 & July 23)

• James Taylor (July 25)

• Scissor Sisters (August 8)

• Hollywood Vampires (August 15)

• Nile Rodgers & CHIC (August 22)

And that’s not even the full list! It's a summer-long festival of music right here in Yorkshire.

What to expect from the Ibiza Classics show

So, what will it actually feel like on June 26th? Expect pure energy and a whole lot of goosebumps. When The Essential Orchestra kicks in on a track you’ve danced to a hundred times, the feeling is electric. It’s a show that bridges generations; you’ll see people who were there in Ibiza in the '90s dancing next to younger fans discovering these timeless anthems for the first time.

Pete Tong acts as the master conductor, guiding the audience through a journey of dance music history, all while the orchestra adds this incredible, epic scale to every beat and melody. It’s a powerful, emotional, and hugely fun experience. This iconic show, with a true pioneer like Danny Rampling warming things up, is set to be one of the summer’s absolute must-see events in Scarborough. Final tickets for this unique musical night are on sale now.