Somerset County Cricket Club has announced a joint partnership with Full Fat 360 to launch Somerset Sounds, an annual summer concert destination.

Launching in summer 2027 at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton, the landmark project hopes to establish a new festival on the UK live music circuit for international touring acts.

The launch marks a strategic move to establish the Cooper Associates County Ground as a primary UK live entertainment destination in its own right, expanding the venue’s footprint beyond its 145-year sporting legacy dating back to 1881. Building on an extensive track record of staging major live events and welcoming internationally renowned artists including the likes of Sir Elton John, Rod Stewart and Lionel Richie, Somerset Sounds represents the next ambitious and natural step in the venue’s evolution on a national scale.

Surrounded by the iconic backdrop of the Quantock Hills and historic church towers, the venue will host major outdoor main-stage shows welcoming thousands of fans on the outfield, supported by premium hospitality packages in the stands and an expansive new St James Street Fan Village featuring curated food, drink, and cultural pop-ups.

The initiative is co-promoted and delivered by Full Fat 360, the UK promoter known for building major stadium and arena shows across the country. Full Fat 360’s national portfolio includes high-profile stadium developments such as the major SMK Live festival series at Milton Keynes’ 30,000-capacity Stadium MK, and headline shows including Kings of Leon and the multi-act BS3 Festival at Bristol’s Ashton Gate.

Oli Bartlam, founder of Full Fat 360, said: “The Cooper Associates County Ground already has an incredible legacy of hosting world-class live entertainment, and Somerset Sounds is the next ambitious step in that evolution. Taunton and the wider region have a massive appetite for major live music, and this partnership allows us to establish the region as a destination on the national touring circuit.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Somerset County Cricket Club to bring international acts to this iconic venue and build an event series the entire South West can be proud of. Summer 2027 is only the beginning.”

Jamie Cox, chief executive officer of Somerset County Cricket Club, said: “Somerset Sounds represents an important step in the evolution of the Club and the Cooper Associates County Ground. Cricket will always be at the heart of who we are, but we have a much wider ambition for the venue and for the role it can play within Somerset.

“We want to create experiences that bring new audiences to Taunton from across the South West and beyond, while generating meaningful economic and cultural benefits for the County. We have a proud history of hosting some of the world’s biggest artists here, and Somerset Sounds gives us the opportunity to build on that heritage and create something distinctive, ambitious and enduring.

“Our ambition is for Somerset Sounds to become one of the standout dates in the South West summer calendar and we’re incredibly excited about what we’re going to announce for 2027.”