ROCKET man Sir Elton John will play an open-air concert in front of 10,000 people at Blenheim Palace next year.

The multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter is the first headliner announced for the Nocturne 2016 music festival.

Held in the Woodstock palace’s Great Court on June 26, the show will be the pianist’s first in Oxfordshire for a decade.

The star told the Oxford Mail he would be performing a string of classic hits along with new music from his 33rd studio album Wonderful Crazy Night. Sir Elton, who spends much of his time in the USA, looks forward to a British gig.

He said: “I want to spend more time with my family. My sons are growing up so quickly. Their early years are flying by, so this concert will give me the chance to thank my faithful British audiences.

“I remember my first show in Oxford near the end of our 1972 UK tour with the great Linda Lewis on support, and am so glad to be playing my first show there in 10 years.”

Sir Elton’s previous performance was at the Kassam Stadium in 2006.

The show is one of a series of Nocturne events at the 300-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site from June 23-26. More acts will be announced in coming months.

Nocturne spokesman Joe Baxter said: “Elton John is a true visionary. This will be his Blenheim Palace debut and he will perform a hit-laden set with his band.”

Tickets, which start at £50, go on sale at 9am on Friday. See nocturnelive.com