YORK'S Barbican Centre could soon reverberate to the sounds of Abba and The Beatles, as its new owners draw up a programme of concerts for the summer.

Not that there are any plans to re-form the Swedish band or get the remaining two Beatles back on stage again, it's those ubiquitous tribute bands which look set to dominate the programme.

However, operators Absolute Leisure are said by councillors to be attempting to sign bigger bands as well, and are also reportedly lining up some big names in comedy for other nights.

The company is still pressing ahead with plans to screen major World Cup matches on big screens in the auditorium, as exclusively revealed in The Press last month.

Before it closed down, the Barbican staged some of the biggest acts in Britain over the years. Big names who appeared there included Paul Weller, Van Morrison, Pulp, Des O'Connor, Elvis Costello, Status Quo, Michael Ball and The Proclaimers.

But since the end of 2004, the auditorium has mostly lain quiet and empty, apart from a handful of events such as last autumn's UK Snooker Tournament, Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance and Community Carol Concert.

Absolute Leisure, who took over the centre from City of York Council late last year following a long planning and legal wrangle, revealed earlier this year that it had abandoned plans to refurbish the centre and also build new bars and restaurants until the start of 2007.

It said this would allow it to try to organise a programme of summer activities, although this was difficult because many acts were booked many months in advance.

City of York Council leisure boss Charlie Croft has told the authority's executive that the company is at an advanced stage of putting together an intensive programme of events, possibly involving concerts on alternate weeks from July to September. There were also plans for comedy nights, with hopes that some of the biggest names in comedy might appear.

Council leader Steve Galloway hinted that the concerts might involve Abba and Beatles bands.

Absolute Leisure said today it was unable as yet to reveal who had been booked for concerts so far, as nothing had yet been signed for definite, and it would probably be next week before it could make any announcement.

Updated: 09:48 Friday, May 05, 2006