RICK WAKEMAN – The Final Solo Tour
FINAL SOLO TOUR As a much sought after session musician in the late sixties and early seventies, he played on more than 2,000 records, including such hits as Cat Stevens’ Morning Has Broken and David Bowie’s Space Oddity and Life on Mars, and worked with a real eclectic mixture of other notable artistes, such as Donovan, Cilla Black, Marc Bolan, Black Sabbath, Lou Reed, Mary Hopkin, Dana, Al Stewart, Elton John and John Williams. In March 1970, he joined Strawbs. His first album with them, Just a Collection of Antiques and Curios, paved the way for ‘folk-rock’ and reviews from their concert at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on July 11th of that year did much to take Rick’s career to a new level. He joined YES in August of 1971 and has been in and out of that band on quite a few occasions! Both as a solo artist and with YES, he has sold more than 50,000,000 albums, although he says that only past management would be able to tell you where the royalties went! He has written two film scores for Ken Russell, (Lisztomania and Crimes of Passion), two scores for Harry Palmer films starring Michael Caine, (Bullet to Beijing and Midnight in St Petersburg), and the award-winning White Rock, as well as Gole, Hero, A Day After The Fair and two horror films, Creepshow 2 and The Burning. He has also carved out quite a television career, appearing on every single episode of the Grumpy Old Men series and on Countdown just under 100 times. He has also accepted numerous invites for Never Mind The Buzzcocks and Have I Got News For You, and is now in his fifth year as a regular presenter on Watchdog. On Radio 4, he can be regularly heard on The News Quiz, Just a Minute and It’s Your Round. He has two books currently available – Grumpy Old Rockstar and Further Adventures of a Grumpy Old Rockstar – both of which made the bestsellers list. The third in the series is due for release shortly. Rick still finds time each year to perform concerts around the world, which can range from his extremely popular one-man show to extravaganzas with symphony orchestras and choirs. In 2019, Rick celebrated his 70th birthday with two sold out performances of his epic Journey To The Centre Of The Earth at London’s Royal Festival Hall, complete with band, choir and orchestra, as well as embarking on his first solo tour of the USA in 13 years in September. In June 2020, he returned to his prog roots, releasing The Red Planet, which was recorded with his touring band The English Rock Ensemble, but embryonic plans for some live shows to accompany it were scuppered due to lockdown. However, Rick had an additional special reason to celebrate the easing of Covid restrictions in June 2021 when his outstanding career in music was recognized by Queen Elizabeth II, who named him a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to music. At the start of 2023, Rick released a new album, The Gallery of The Imagination, and also performed with the English Rock Ensemble and the English Chamber Choir at the prestigious London Palladium theatre over two nights: The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (Weds 22 Feb) and Classic YES and Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (Thur 23 Feb). The works were performed in brand new concert arrangements for band and choir, and captured for his Live At The London Palladium 4-CD set. The album and sold-out concerts were so well-received that the band toured the UK in February 2024, reprising the second concert, and Rick hopes to do the same with the first night repertoire in 2025.
Albert Lee & Jeremy Clyde – An Evening of Stories & Songs
Albert Lee & Jeremy Clyde As one half of Chad & Jeremy, Jeremy Clyde “fell into the slipstream of the Beatles” and burst through all barriers to success in America as part of the 1964 British Invasion, while Albert Lee has been called “the ultimate virtuoso” by Eric Clapton. Influenced from their earliest days as musicians and performers by great American artists like Buddy Holly and The Everly Brothers, Albert Lee and Jeremy Clyde bring those influences to the fore in their first series of “storytellers” style shows together as an acoustic duo. Albert Lee began his career as a touring musician in the early sixties, and soon catapulted onto the stage with the likes of Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton, and Emmylou Harris. A 25-year run as Music Director of his beloved Everly Brothers coincided with studio and stage work with Vince Gill, Roseanne Cash, and also Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr (“The Concert for George”). Even with all this, he found the time for over 10 solo and band albums under his own monniker. His numerous studio sessions have led to four Grammy Awards nominations and two Grammy awards. We came to know Jeremy Clyde via seven Top 40 hits with Chad & Jeremy, whose debut “Yesterday’s Gone” quickly established them as a force on American radio and television. Jeremy regales us with tales from Chad & Jeremy’s sixties era TV appearances on Batman and the Dick Van Dyke show, and more recently his own acting roles in “The Iron Lady” alongside Meryl Streep as Maragaret Thatcher, as well as “Downton Abbey”. Perhaps influenced by such work, Jeremy’s songwriting has a cinematic quality which is highlighted in songs from his” Bottom Drawer Sessions” releases. It all starts with a song, and these duo shows will reflect that. From the Chad & Jeremy catalog, Albert Lee and Jeremy Clyde will harmonize on “Distant Shores”, “Yesterday’s Gone”, “Summer Song”, and more. From Albert Lee’s back pages, expect the Jimmy Webb-penned , “The Highwayman”, Glenn Campbell’s ” A Better Place”, and the Jimmy Jones/Otis Blackwell classic “Handy Man”. Inspirations to both artists such as the Everly Brothers provide “Crying in the Rain” and “Bye Bye Love”, while from Buddy Holly comes ” Well, All Right” and “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore”. As Albert and Jeremy tell us stories of the travels that brought them to so many of the intersections of cultural history, the two legends bring these timeless songs to life.
Iris DeMent
Iris DeMent On her transcendent new record, Workin’ On A World, Iris DeMent faces the modern world — as it is right now — with its climate catastrophe, pandemic illness, and epidemic of violence and social injustice — and not only asks us how we can keep working towards a better world, but implores us to love each other, despite our very different ways of seeing. Her songs are her way of healing our broken inner and outer spaces. With an inimitable voice as John Prine described, “like you’ve heard, but not really,” and unforgettable melodies rooted in hymns, gospel, and old country music, she’s simply one of the finest singer-songwriters in America as well as one of our fiercest advocates for human rights. Her debut record Infamous Angel, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary, was recently named one of the “greatest country albums of all time” by Rolling Stone, and the two albums that followed, My Life and The Way I Should, were both nominated for GRAMMYs. From there, DeMent released three records on her own label, Flariella Records, the most recent of which, The Trackless Woods (2015), was hailed as “a quietly powerful triumph” by The Guardian. DeMent’s songs have also been featured in film (True Grit) and television (The Leftovers) and recorded by numerous artists. Fittingly, she received the Americana Music Trailblazer Award in 2017. Ana Egge Ana Egge is a singer-songwriter and apprentice luthier from Brooklyn, NY. She has released 13 studio albums, playing her homemade guitar. Egge’s music has been praised by critics for its honesty, vulnerability, and beauty. She was born in Canada, and raised in North Dakota, and has toured extensively throughout North America and Europe. Egge is the subject of a 2015 documentary film, Bright Shadow. She has been featured in Billboard, Rolling Stone, and on NPR to name a few. Lucinda Williams calls her “the folk Nina Simone.”
Pete Best – The Beatles’ original drummer & The Cyrkle
PETE BEST and The Pete Best Band PLUS – The Cyrkle VIP Meet & Greet available – Info below Pete Best & the Pete Best Band In 1988, original drummer of The Beatles, Pete Best formed The Pete Best Band. The band delivers the raw, thumping intensity of the Beatles’ savage sound during the early sixties. The band are proud of their authentic sound and energy. Right from the first beat, you’ll be immersed in nostalgia, listening to ‘the BEST years’ of the Beatles, 1960-62. www.petebest.com The Cyrkle The story of the band’s meteoric mid-’60s rise is a heady one even by the halcyon standards of the era: they shared stages (and manager Brian Epstein) during The Beatles USA Tour as the opening act, with The Beatles – whose John Lennon coined the spelling of their name – and scored two major hits in the Paul Simon/Bruce Woodley-written “Red Rubber Ball” and the culture-defining “Turn-Down Day”. Then in 2017, DANNEMANN (vocals and guitar) and LOSEKAMP (vocals and keyboards) joined forces with some of Ohio’s top performing musicians – including OHIO EXPRESS bassist Dean Kastran as well as Pat McLoughlin (vocals, guitar), Don White (lead guitar, vocals) and Scott Langley (drums, vocals) — to recreate the original Cyrkle sound onstage VIP Meet & Greet – This is a true meet & greet – photos are OK – no autographs Starts at approx. 5PM Only 50 spaces available & You must also have a concert ticket. $65.00 upgrade available at check-out
Taj Farrant
Taj Farrant may be young, but his natural musical ability surpasses his age. This down to earth Aussie kid is more than passionate about playing guitar and is clearly a natural born rocker through and through. Taj is fortunate to have a very supportive family, helping guide and encourage his passion, with freedom and balance to enjoy playing and perfect his techniques while still enjoying kid stuff too. Taj has already picked up some huge endorsements world-wide. As a guitarist Taj has that truly genuine ‘feel’ when he plays, with technique and soul well beyond his years. With Taj’s online presence growing fast and being featured on the Ellen DeGeneres show, Taj has also been blessed to share the stage with some world class artist such as Carlos Santana, Rob Thomas, Orianthi and many more, strap in and hold on … this is Taj Farrant!PLUS Special Guests: Jazel Farrant as well as Nathan Bryce and Loaded Dice.VIP Meet & Greet available – $50 – Must have a concert ticket as well.
ERIC JOHNSON
Eric Johnson has been traveling on a prolific odyssey over the course of more than four decades. Along the way, his creations have encompassed repertoire that cross pollinate genres which include rock, blues, jazz, fusion, soul, folk, new-age, classical and even country. Inevitably E.J. says it best himself in sharing. “It really boils down to the music and the song at the end of the day,” he explains. “If it doesn’t have that it gets boring for me. The most important thing for me is to grow musically and make a more expansive and meaningful artistic statement with every new project.” Among Johnson’s many accolades are a Grammy award for “Cliffs Of Dover ” (a track from his Platinum certified Ah Via Musicom), lifetime induction into the Guitar Player Gallery of Greats, his listing among the “100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century” by Musician. In his hometown of Austin TX, a city full of guitarists the readers of the Austin Chronicle have voted Johnson the city’s “Best Electric Guitarist” and “Best Acoustic Guitarist” in their yearly poll year after year. They also named him “Electric Guitarist of the Decade” and one of the top five “Musicians of the Decade
The Carole King and James Taylor Story
The Carole King & James Taylor Story Following critically acclaimed sell-out runs at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Adelaide Fringe, and sold-out shows in the UK and the US, The Carole King & James Taylor Story comes to a theatre near you. Taking you on an incredible journey through the careers of the six-time Grammy Award winner, twenty-time platinum hit maker Carole King, five-time Grammy Award winner, and American folk legend James Taylor, this is a show not to be missed. Featuring passionate renditions of Fire and Rain, Sweet Baby James, I Feel the Earth Move, Natural Woman, You’ve Got a Friend, and many more, this astonishing back catalogue is realised with authenticity by Phoebe Katis and Dan Clews, both well-established artists in their own right. Winner of Mervs Edinburgh Spirit Of The Fringe Award 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Sell Out Show 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 Brighton Fringe Latest Loves Award NominationBrighton Fringe Sell Out Show 2019, 2021, 2022Winner of Adelaide Weekly Music Award 2020Winner Edinburgh Fringe Derek Awards 2023 “Dan Clews is too great a talent to ignore” – Sir George Martin “sent chills down my spine” – The Upside News “Will leave any folk-rock fans wholly satisfied” – BroadwayBaby “Wow, what an experience” – BBC Radio “performance was immaculate” – Three Weeks
The Jerry Douglas Band
The Jerry Douglas BandDobro master and 16-time Grammy winner Jerry Douglas is a bandleader, producer, session musician, instructor, and a very funny guy! He’s produced over a hundred albums and he’s featured on over 1,600 studio albums. He’s a member of Alison Kraus & Union Station, co-bandleader for Transatlantic Sessions in the United Kingdom, founder for the Grammy winner bluegrass super-group The Earls of Leicester, and he leads The Jerry Douglas Band. Since 2017, The Jerry Douglas Band has been forging new paths into the musical horizon with deep roots in bluegrass and folk that spreads out into the Americana and jazz landscapes. In 2021, The Jerry Douglas Band released an album, Leftover Feelings, with legendary singer songwriter John Hiatt. The album was nominated for a 2022 Grammy for “Best Americana Album,” and their previous record What If also received a Grammy nomination for “Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.” They perform at some of the top US festivals such as Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Pilgrimage Music Festival, Big Ears Festival, DelFest, FreshGrass, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Merlefest, and many others. In addition to Douglas, The Jerry Douglas Band includes Daniel Kimbro on bass, Christian Sedelmyer on fiddle, and Mike Seal on guitar. Daniel Kimbro — Raised on American Roots music in and around Appalachia, Daniel Kimbro is a multi Grammy-nominated bassist with numerous stage and studio appearances to his credit. Currently touring and recording with The Jerry Douglas Band, The Earls of Leicester, the Transatlantic Sessions and many others, Daniel utilizes his extensive experience within Jazz, Folk and Bluegrass genres to maintain a busy freelance career from his twin homes of Nashville and Knoxville, Tennessee. Christian Sedelmyer — Christian Sedelmyer is a daring and diversified musician who brings a 21st-century vision to the five-string violin. Raised in Erie, PA and based in Nashville since 2008, he’s been a member of the Jerry Douglas Band since Summer of 2014. In addition, he’s forged two successful bands (The Farewell Drifters and 10 String Symphony) and become a valued side musician and collaborator in contemporary string band music. Sedelmyer contributed to the IBMA Award winning 2018 Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year. He regularly collaborates and records with Andrew Marlin (Watchhouse), and his debut solo instrumental album, Ravine Palace, featuring Douglas, Marlin, Eli West (guitar) and Clint Mullican (bass) was released in 2020.Mike Seal — Mike Seal is a twice grammy-nominated guitarist and composer based in Nashville, TN. Originally from Bridgewater, Virginia, Mike has been touring and recording with a wide variety of bands including: The Jerry Douglas Band, Sierra Hull, Bob Lanzetti, Viktor Kraus Band Jeff Sipe Trio, Sarah Siskind, Danny Barnes, The Jeff Coffin Mu-tet, Ike Stubblefield, Yonrico Scott, Keith L. Brown, The Black Lillies, and many others. Mike’s first solo EP, Dogwoods, released in 2018 and is available on Spotify and other streaming services.
Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters!
The Boxmasters release “‘Love & Hate In Desperate Places” Album and North American Tour Dates In conjunction with the release of their newest album on August 30th, “Love & Hate In Desperate Places”, The Boxmasters will also be kicking off a tour of the United States and Canada. This marks their 17th release as the ever-prolific J.D. Andrew and Bud Thornton tweak their sound for this album and add longtime road musicians Kirk McKim and Raymond Hardy to the recordings. “When we started this album, we were calling it the ‘Rock Record’ as we were making it. We had some songs that were a bit too heavy to fit on previous records, and we also wrote songs to have a heavier feel to them. Then when we had most of the songs written, we had Kirk and Raymond come out to put their parts on them, which immediately made the record sound more like we sound on the road.” says J.D. Kirk McKim joined The Boxmasters in 2015 after longtime collaborator Brad Davis had to return to his solo and studio work. Originally from the Houston area, Kirk played with Pat Travers for many years as well as other top groups. Raymond Hardy joined The Boxmasters in 2010 as a guitar technician. At the suggestion of former bassist Dave Fowler, Raymond became the bass player. His low-end heft and stage persona add an extra valuable element to the show. Says Bud, “Even, though Raymond and Kirk have been on the road with us for years and are like brothers to us, we’ve never all made a Boxmasters record with all of us in the same room. It was amazing, morale boosting. We also wrote a song together in the studio, which was a dream song and one of the singles picked by the label.” Singles from the album will be “Jayne Mansfield’s Car” which Bud, J.D. and Mike Butler wrote in 2009 but it never found a place on a previous album. The other single will be “Goodnight, Sleep Tight, I’m Gone” which was the last song written for the album by Bud, Kirk and Raymond. “I had a schedule conflict for part of the last day we were in the studio and the boys sat down and wrote my favorite song on the album. I really wish I had been there but at the same time, I might have messed it up!” says J.D. The “2024 Love & Hate Tour” kicks off in Tomball, Texas and continues through the Midwest, Canada and then back from the East Coast to California. Joining J.D., Bud, Kirk and Raymond will be Nick Davidson on drums. Formed in 2007, The Boxmasters have recorded an impressive and diverse catalogue of music that touches on their love of a wide array of influences, but most importantly, the rock and roll of the 1960’s. Listening to The Boxmasters, one can hear obvious odes to the Beatles, Byrds and Beach Boys, but also important to The Boxmasters are The Mothers of Invention, The Allman Brothers, Kris Kristofferson, John Prine and Big Star. As a touring band, The Boxmasters have cultivated a rabid cult fanbase across the United States, Canada and now Europe and the United Kingdom. Opening for the likes of ZZ Top, Steve Miller, George Thorogood and Bubbles and The Sh*t Rockers, The Boxmasters have proven to win over large audiences. As a headliner, they are still growing audiences. Appearances at Levon Helm’s “Midnight Ramble” in Woodstock, were highlight performances for the band, as well as the “Ramble at The Ryman” that Levon hosted in 2008. Other highlights include performing on “The Grand Ole Opry” in 2015, and in 2023 The Boxmasters fulfilled a life-long dream of playing The Cavern Club in Liverpool.
Livingston Taylor & the Chagrin Falls Orchestra
Livingston Taylor Livingston Taylor’s career as a professional musician has spanned over 50 years, encompassing performance, songwriting, and teaching. Described as “equal parts Mark Twain, college professor, and musical icon, Livingston maintains a performance schedule of more than a hundred shows a year, delighting audiences with his charm and vast repertoire of his 22 albums and popular classics. Livingston has written top-40 hits recorded by his brother James Taylor and has appeared with Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Fleetwood Mac, and Jimmy Buffet. He is equally at home with a range of musical genres – folk, pop, gospel, jazz – and from upbeat storytelling and touching ballads to full orchestra performances. In addition to his performance schedule, Livingston has been a full professor at Berklee College of Music for 30 years, passing on the extensive knowledge gained from his long career on the road to the next generation of musicians. Liv is an airplane-flying, motorcycle-riding, singing storyteller, delighting audiences with his charm for over 50 years.Chagrin Falls Studio OrchestraRecently, the CFSO performed with Judy Collins at The Kent Stage. Together they provided an exceptional evening of music to a sold-out concert. The Chagrin Falls Studio Orchestra is a volunteer-driven, nonprofit musical endeavor that brings studio arrangements, as well as the classics that inspired them, to stages in Northeast Ohio. The Studio Orchestra is the only known orchestra in the region with a particular focus on studio arrangements. Written as film scores and rarely played live, studio arrangements represent some of the most dynamic, high-energy music of our time, by some of the most respected composers. The Studio Orchestra affords its musicians the privilege and honor to play these original works—and its audience members the rare opportunity to hear them played live. With guest musicians and vocalists as well as multimedia presentation, the performance experience is more than just a concert—it represents a new vision in musical entertainment.