YORK Racecourse’s Music Showcase got underway for 2017 at the weekend as Olly Murs performed in front of a sell-out crowd on the Knavesmire.

The prince of pop attracted more than 38,500 people, with County, Grandstand and Paddock tickets selling out well in advance of Saturday’s show, leaving remaining fans flocking to the Course Enclosure, which subsequently reached capacity for the first ever time during a music event.

The concert followed a brand new raceday in York Racecourse’s calendar, as a £150,000, seven race card attracted racegoers from far and wide.

As the recent downpours cleared for a bright and sunny afternoon the bars, lawns and stands were packed with people of all ages enjoying the racing ahead of the evening’s performance.

With York-trained Jacbequick the first past the post on the final race of the day, routes in and out of the Knavesmire were uncharacteristically quiet as the usual out pour from the racecourse was abandoned in favour of the impending concert.

The festival-style stage that had loomed over the home straight throughout the day came to life with a rapturous applause when 33-year-old Olly appeared to open the show with his 2016 hit You Don’t Know Love.

Olly won over the crowd with a set list packed with his popular hits including Trouble Maker, Heart Skips a Beat, and Wrapped Up which was supported by a sing-along from the thousands of fans packed at the front of the stage.

During the show Olly told the crowd: “Wow, how are you York? It’s an absolute pleasure to be here with you.

“Me and the band are just so so excited to be here in York.

“The last time I was here at York Racecourse was in 2010 and it’s an absolute pleasure to be back. If I could kiss you all I would.”

The clear skies of the day failed to last into the night, and as a drizzle turned into a short-lived pour umbrellas popped up and rain coats were thrown over heads about six songs in.

Intertwined between his own songs Olly pulled out a surprisingly large number of covers of hits from across the ages, getting the crowd into the groove with a rendition of Stevie Wonder’s Superstition, before belting out Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got To Do With It, and getting the crowd on board to sing Simply the Best. In a nod to recent chart hits, Olly put his own stamp on Justin Timeberlake’s Can’t Stop the Feeling.

Returning to his own repertoire Olly finished the set with the third single off his fifth album 24 Hrs - Year and Years.

The Racecourse’s Music Showcase continues at the end of the month with Jess Glynne lined up to perform on July28 followed by All Saints on July 29.