PARTY season will descend on Southend this summer with Craig David and McFly set to perform, thanks to a Government funding boost to aid recovery from Covid-19.

In The Park Concerts has been handed £36,255 in funding from the Government and will stage a series of summer gigs with big name stars in Southend’s Garon Park.

The business, known for hosting festivals and concerts across the county, welcomed the “essential” funding that will allow them to create a “memorable year” following the Covid pandemic.

A spokesman for In The Park Concerts said: “We are wholly delighted and hugely appreciative in being successful with the application for the second round of the Culture Recovery Fund.

“This will be further vital backbone support for us over the coming months.

“We would like to take time to thank Arts Council England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and those individuals who have worked so hard to make this fund possible.

“With this essential support, In The Park Concerts will strive in these unprecedented difficult times to make 2021 a memorable and outstanding year for live entertainment utilising all genres of world class music with a series of great concerts and festivals across Essex and the South East.”

Craig David will take to the stage on July 11 with a full live band and special guest performances.

While Scouting for Girls will be the support act for McFly, alongside other special guests, at Garons on July 31.

In The Park Concerts are also organising for Katherine Jenkins to perform in Maldon’s Promenade Park in the north of Essex during the summer.

Businesses and groups across south Essex - including the Towngate Theatre in Basildon - will benefit from a share of £2,832,782 as part of the Government’s culture recovery fund to help the arts industry re-open.

To buy tickets for any of the In The Park Concerts, visit skiddle.com/whats-on/Southend-on-Sea/Garon-Park/