CHART-TOPPING boy band McFly are to play at York Racecourse this summer during the annual Music Showcase Weekend.

The concert, on Saturday, July 28, will be the pop-rockers’ second appearance in York this year, coming three months after a gig at York Barbican.

McFly’s fame has grown over the past year, following the success of Harry Judd on BBC TV’s Strictly Come Dancing show and Dougie Poynter in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

Racecourse spokesman James Brennan said the band would be performing hits from their number one albums, such as the chart topping All About You, Obviously and 5 Colours In Her Hair.

Harry Judd said: “We’ll be in York for our sold-out gig at the Barbican in April, so we’re very excited to be back in the city, performing at the racecourse in July.

“We really enjoy playing racecourses and, because we’ve heard there’s always an incredible atmosphere at York Races, we are especially looking forward to performing.”

McFly will perform live after the Sky Bet York Stakes race meeting, which is expected to attract a field from the top stables.

Mr Brennan warned that the racing and concert were integrated events and admission would not be available on a “concert-only” basis, with the gates closing at the time of the last race.

He said the atmosphere on the day should be “something special”, and Sky Bet’s support had seen the Saturday meeting blossom, with 40,000 people attending last year to see Sir Henry Cecil’s star thoroughbred, Twice Over, win the £100,000 feature race followed by live music by Scouting For Girls.

Tickets for this year’s combined racing and music extravaganza officially went on sale yesterday. They can be bought by going to yorkracecourse.co.uk or phoning 01904 620911.

Mr Brennan said the racecourse was planning another concert on the Friday evening but was not yet ready to name the act.

Last year, Blondie played on the Friday.