Picnic Concert : Flatford

Saturday -

July

24,

2027

18:30

National Trust Flatford Mill

Flatford. CO7 6UL

Waiting list

This is our favourite venue - and this will be our 5th consecutive year performing here to a sell out crowd! It's an absolutely idyllic spot for a Summer evening picnic at the National Trust's site on the banks of the River Stour.

TICKETS ARE NOT YET ON SALE
If you wish to register on our waiting list and be reminded as soon as tickets go on sale - click here

Tickets are £22.50 and will go on general sale from Wednesday 24th March 2027. EarlyBird tickets will be available from Sunday 24th January at £20.00. A booking fee of 50p applies to all on-line sales.

Our picnic concerts usually sell out in advance but any remaining tickets will be available on the gate from 5:30pm on the day at £25.00 cash - but we recommend you buy in advance on-line!

THE PAUL SIMON STORY

The UK’s no.1 Paul Simon tribute band “Shades of Simon” will be performing their highly acclaimed show “The Paul Simon Story” at Flatford Mill for the 5th year running!

With an engaging narration, outstanding musicianship and pleasing renditions of the very best of Paul Simon’s songs from Simon & Garfunkel to Graceland, this is an evening not to be missed!

The concert will be held in the gardens of the National Trust site adjoining the River Stour against the backdrop of the wonderful 18th Century Old Granary building. Please bring your own picnic food and drink plus garden chairs or rugs. The National Trust cafe will be open for tea, coffee and snacks and bottled alcoholic drinks before the concert. Toilet facilities available nearby. Free parking available after 5pm in the National Trust car park approx 200 yards from the Gardens. Please do not bring dogs, it is not a suitable environment for them, or for babies & young children.

Gates open at 5:30pm. The concert starts at 6:30pm, has a 15 minute interval, and should finish around 9:00pm. This is an open air event and the concert will go ahead whatever the weather, so please come suitably prepared!

You can see the exact location of the venue using the what3words address https://w3w.co/workforce.musical.flopping

For more information about the National Trust and Flatford Mill see https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/flatford

What other people have said…

Just enjoyed a fabulous evening of Paul Simon songs in the intimate surroundings of the Headgate theatre. The band are all really accomplished musicians with a fantastic repertoire of Paul Simon songs brilliantly introduced and presented. I loved it.

Jane

Colchester

Brilliant musicians. Really captured the music and life of Paul Simon. A fitting tribute. Fabulous evening.

John Googe

Southend on Sea

WHAT A TRULY UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE! With powerful vocals, wonderful harmonies, excellent musicianship , you cannot fail to be blown away by this amazing band……it follows Paul Simons career from the 60s right up to his last offering…the love for the artist shines through, as does the friendship within the band ….the 2 and 1/2 hour show had no “down” spots …every song was beautifully crafted and performed with genuine enthusiasm……

Michael Williams

What an excellent show!! Beautiful harmonies and brilliant musicians. Exceeded our expectations.

Tessa

Colchester

Just to say what a wonderful concert you performed last night at Scotney Castle and well done we had a great time.
Please include me on your mailing list for future events.

James Callinan

Kent

Brilliant bunch of musicians and great guys!

Arlene Ellis

Just got home buzzing from a great night at the Lawns. What a great polished band. Thank you

John Woollcott

Lawns in Hockley

Thank you for a wonderful evening! Myself and friends had a fantastic night. Please let us know when you’re returning to the Lawns.

Claire Fox

I very much enjoyed your show in Ipswich recently. It’s the second time I have seen SoS and have been impressed both times by your authentic production, from folk sounds to the livelier African influenced music. It all makes for a great show.

Chris

Ipswich

Saw them play last night at the Brentwood Theatre. Absolutely fantastic and looking at their other venues to go again. It’s brought back so many memories and I was in heaven. Keep going as this upliftment is what everyone needs.

Mieke Staley

Brentwood.

Saw this wonderful band 3 years ago and decided to make the trip over again from Dublin to catch them at the 2025 Knebworth House show. Beautiful setting, excellent sound quality and a fab evening of time travel through some of Paul Simon’s best work from the mid 60’s to the late 80’s. This band are a joy to listen to – faithfully reproducing the Simon & Garfunkel signature harmonies right through to the swaying African rhythms of Paul’s later work. Pure enjoyment and a must-see if they’re in your area!

Pat Cannon

Dublin

A wonderful concert – Shades of Simon are so talented, and their love of the music shone through. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The band generated a great atmosphere, and made us get up and dance!

Mike and Jo Richards

Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire

Saw u guys tonight. U were amazing/ fantastic as usual! xx

Joy

Chelmsford

Saw these terrific musicians last night in Broadstairs. Brilliant performances, many thanks. We saw S and G in 1983 in Sydney as part of their world wide tour, can honestly say these blokes more than equalled them, thank you!

Hilary Di Stefano

Ashford

Just had the most amazing 3 hours of live entertainment with the Shades of Simon group at Knebworth House. So professional, close your eyes and you were listening to Simon and Art and took me back 60, 50 and 40 years of Paul’s work. Thank you guys, cannot wait to see you again next year.

Rod Reeves

Welwyn Garden City

This band / show are amazing. I personally think they are better than Paul Simon himself. Seen once. Have booked again to see them in Oct!

Joy Trundle

Chelmsford

I went to Flatford last year and really enjoyed it ! Great setting and fantastic musicians. And of course, what a songbook to pick from…

Jeff Scrivener

Ipswich

Absolutely amazing!! Well worth seeing if they come to a theatre near you.

Sharon Price

Ramsgate

Just finished and it was probably the best show there ever such talented musicians. Almost 3 hours of Paul Simon’s music. Great audience participation too. Sarah Thorne theatre.

Carole Copeland

Ramsgate

Saw the show last night. Second time for me at the Mill. It was once again awesome. And I’m not going to drop spoilers here, but a much requested song has been added into the act and finished the night off perfectly. Thank you guys and come back soon. x

Richard Levy

Rayleigh

We saw these guys last night in Ely, what a show! Great stuff guys 5 very talented musicians. Well worth a look if you get a chance.

Olly

Saffron Walden

Watching Shades of Simon – simply fantastic!

Louisa

Maldon

It was a wonderful show – thank you so much for coming – it was pure joy, I loved every minute of it, as, clearly, did the rest of the audience.

Cathy (Theatre Manager)

Bungay

We saw Shades at the Commemoration Hall in Huntingdon on Saturday night. They were brilliant. The set list, music and singing were perfect,. The story of Paul Simon weaved around the songs was fascinating. Above all their obvious enthusiasm and enjoyment made the whole evening exhilarating. We’ve already booked to see them again. A truly magical evening.

Peter

St Neots

Many thanks for the event last Thursday – to have a full house and so much great feedback was wonderful.

Andrew (Electric Palace)

Harwich

Wow! What a show, fellas! Liz & I, & our friend Les, were blown away by your performance last night! So authentic .. true to the sound of the mighty duo! We will see you again!

Bob

Chelmsford

Top class musicians and beautiful vocals, all interspersed with lots of interesting stories and anecdotes about Simon and Garfunkel. A really great show

Pat

Dublin

Wow what an amazing show. I was blown away . Didn’t think I knew Paul Simon songs , but knew a lot them & rest were great . I knew Colin was good , but with the rest of the band they were amazing. Look forward to seeing u again. Great sound system xx

Joy

Chelmsford

A wonderful band, with a truly amazing homage to the Paul Simon story… Don’t miss it!

Clive

Witham

Brilliant gig guys, the standing ovation at the end said it all!

Roy

Chelmsford

Good vocals & harmonies. Excellent musicianship all round.

Ian

Wickford

The band capture the spirit of Paul Simon perfectly, as well as his duets with Art Garfunkel. Impersonation? No. Authentic? Yes!

Nigel

Flatford

This was such a brilliant show! Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Solid Earth Band

Colchester

Brilliant! Can’t wait to see them again.

Steve

Harwich

An experienced and dedicated band of superb musicians, Shades of Simon are without any doubt the real deal.

Terry Hiscock

South Woodham Ferrers

Thank you for a fabulous evening, fantastic setting for a fantastic band.

John

Essex

Good arrangements. Well rehearsed and professional.

Jonathan

Enfield

The band’s attention to detail in the songs achieves an impressively authentic sound

Richard

London

Absolutely fantastic band! Well worthy of playing Knebworth…

Simon

Peterborough

Simply brilliant!

Jonathan

Rayleigh

Thank you gents for a very enjoyable evening, some cracking musicianship and singing. Loved the format, very informative!

Tony

Purleigh

Interesting, engaging narration. Good selection of songs.

Paul

Chelmsford

With this pedigree the band will be top notch! Colin’s voice is a natural Paul Simon.

Dean

Basildon

A top band!

John

Wickford

Had a brilliant evening, thank you so much. Great music!

Jenny

Cambridge

I loved it – great great sound!

Dave (Manager Headgate theatre

Colchester

We had a brilliantly fantastic evening, singing dancing and listening to a very talented band. Love to see you again.

Sue

Herts.

The music is interspersed with an interesting narrative and all in all provides exceptional captivating entertainment.

Nigel

East Bergholt

Saw them last night at the Headgate Theatre, fabulous musicians who bring the infectious joy of Paul Simon’s first three decades of music along with interesting anecdotes from his life. Wonderful vocals with lovely harmonies. The whole sold-out audience was left happy and buzzing. I heartily recommend catching Shades of Simon and thank them for a brilliant evening.

Sari

Colchester

The moment I heard that Colin and friends were putting together a band to celebrate the life and music of Paul Simon, I knew we were in safe hands.

Terry

South Woodham Ferrers

Picnic Concert : Flatford

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