The Brook, 466 Portswood Road, Portswood, Southampton SO17 3SD
Box Office Hours - 1.00pm - 7.00pm Mon - Sat (023) 8055 5366
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November 2010 @ The Brook

"The thought of a band that covers early-1980s new wave and post-punk music like Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart in a Bossa Nova style might make you a little queasy, but fortunately Paris-based Nouvelle Vague apply lashings of the noirish cool" - The Guardian

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ACDC, Motley Crue, Van Halen, Poison, Def Leppard, Scorpions etc... and Very Big Hair

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Take yourself back to 1984….
When the world was full of rock n roll animal's…
Who wanted nothin' but a good time …
Whilst Tommy and Gina were still back home livin' on a prayer in panama…

HAIRFORCE-5 were born…
Stevie Viper, Rikki Thunder, Tracii Van-Wylde and Gene Stirrz…
Were all cruising down the highway to hell with all those girls, girls, girls …
They didn't stop rockin' their crotches off…
And they are still rockin' them today…
And rockin' them hard…

HAIRFORCE-5 are Europe's Premier Tribute Band…
A Tribute to all those great songs, those great bands…
And all that was great with Rock music in the 1980's….
When the vocals were SCREAMING, and so were the groupies…
When the guitars were BIG, and so was the hair…
When the bass lines were TIGHT, and so were the trousers…
When the drums were POUNDING, and so were our hearts…
These guys will rock you like a hurricane…
So what are you waiting for, walk this way…
Jump onboard the crazy train…
And join the fun…

This is the final countdown to rock and roll all night with HAIRFORCE-5 at the Brook...

"You guys ARE THE DEFINITIVE Supertrampers. Please play the South of England more often!!"

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Never mind your Wigan Casino, Rufus Stone at the Brook is where it's at.

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Time to dance the night away with the band who make every gig a party night! Those that have followed the band will know that the Rufus Stone Soul Band, based in their home town of Southampton, has been around in many guises since their start in late 1984. After all this time you would expect that some of the sparkle would have gone, not a bit. They still have the same distinctive sound, which ensures that they get the maximum involvement from their audience.

Over the years they have built a loyal following and it is this support that has kept the band not only on the road but still as soulful as when they started. The music is authentic soul with selections from The Blues Brothers and The Commitments, but the bulk of the set comes from the soul greats such as Otis Redding, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Joe Tex and many others.

During their time together there have been a number of highlights that include support to some of the top soul artists like Jimmy Ruffin, Edwin Starr, Curtis Mayfield, Geno Washington, Ben E King, and Gloria Gaynor.

Shades of Springsteen, Rea and Knopfler there may be - but Martyn Joseph is a performer like no other. Powerful voice and 'outstanding lyrical intelligence' - Bob Harris - Radio 2

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Acoustic artist Martyn Joseph? Not just what it says on the tin.

Another guitar laden singer songwriter he may be, but in these transient times where musicians have a seemingly inevitable disposability, the longevity of Martyn's thirty year career suggests he has something special to offer, and indeed he most definitely does.

For the first time in fifteen years, the "Under Lemonade Skies" UK tour earlier this year saw Martyn Joseph joined onstage by a live band. Following the success of this tour Martyn has chosen to include some Band performances in the forthcoming Autumn tour, and as The Brook is one of Martyn's favourite venues in the Uk, he's looking forward to them joining him onstage at the show.

A Martyn Joseph Band gig is something very special. There's all the passion and polish of Martyn's solo gigs but bassist Andrew Coughlan and drummer Mason Neely (both stalwarts of the Cerys Matthews Band) add a whole new dimension with their superb yet sensitive playing enhancing Martyn's performance but leaving him all the space he needs. Furthermore, Martyn clearly enjoys sharing the stage with the other two musicians, so a Martyn Joseph Band gig is not only musically uplifting, but enormous fun too!

Often likened to musicians such as Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer and Bruce Cockburn, Martyn's come a long way since the days when Epic signed him after he sold 30,000 copies of his self-financed album ‘An Aching and A Longing'. He continues to tour extensively on both sides of the Atlantic, building up a constantly expanding and enthusiastic fan base, bringing to their towns what many have described as ‘the best musical experience of their lives.'

There is versatility to Martyn's music that is hard to categorise. Many have tried, resulting in labels such as Folk, Rock, Soul, Folk Funk and Americana; all of which somehow miss the mark. But sometimes music doesn't need a defining genre. Martyn's music and social commentary manage to empower and speak for many. Built around memories and observations alike, his work is inspired by all that's good in the world and also that with which society often falls short.

Martyn Joseph. A unique talent driven by passion and love for his trade, he continues to write, sing and play from the heart. It's a road he's been travelling for most of his life and as he often tells his audience; ‘you keep turning up and so will I.'

Just when you think you've got a handle on singer songwriters, along comes Martyn Joseph to blow the myth away.....

In a year that marks 31 years in the business, Martyn proves that there's nothing predictable about his gigs – only that they can make you laugh, cry, get you thinking, leave you reeling.

An acoustic artist with an electrifying spontaneity, this colossally gifted and gracious Welshman has five Top 50 hits to his name (including Dolphins Make Me Cry and Please Sir) and has been in demand on both sides of the Atlantic for over two decades. Touring both solo and with the likes of Ani DiFranco, Art Garfunkel and Jools Holland he has won fans everywhere with his uncanny melting pot of material which ranges from rock to blues, jazz, Americana and even, "funk folk"!

A mean guitar player with a powerful voice, Bob Harris has praised the "outstanding lyrical intelligence" of his songs while he was voted Best Male Artist in the BBC Welsh Music Awards.

Shades of Springsteen, John Mayer and Bruce Cockburn there may be - but Joseph is unique and no two shows are ever the same.

He has an enviable high level connectivity with his audience whether it's an arts centre in his native Wales or a 5,000 strong crowd at the Royal Albert Hall. His gigs are like taking a rollercoaster ride with a chameleon as he dips and dives between mighty and meek songs, railing against the broken promise playground of global leaders, throwing in some wry humour, holding tight to common man anthems and then "disarming" for unexpectedly fragile love songs that can knock you sideways.

It might be just another evening when you go in to a Martyn Joseph concert – but it certainly won't be when you come out.....

"Britain's best kept secret…..a challenging songwriter and compelling and courageous live performer – MOJO

"He is one of our most intelligent writers. He gets better and better like the finest of wines" - Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2

"Songs of social commentary as much as love, with a rootsy sensibility" – Time Out

"A depth, resonance and emotional punch which belies comparison" – Q

"One of the most charismatic and electrifying performers in Britain today" –Tom Robinson, BBC 6

World renowned guitarist - supported Joe Satriani on the G3 tour last year and confirmed to a younger audience what Gilbert fans have known for over 20 years that Paul Gilbert is simply one of the greatest guitarists on the planet today

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The former Dr Feelgood guitarist returns to The Brook after the triumphant Mad, Bad and Dangerous tour.

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When rock'n'roll was shaken from its pre-punk complacency by the emergence of Dr. Feelgood, it was their guitarist Wilko Johnson who excited most attention – not only for the startling violence of his stage performance (which was to inspire countless imitators and become one of the classic images of rock'n'roll) but also for his guitar style which combined the roles of lead and rhythm guitar in driving riffs and a stuttering machine gun frenzy which altered conceptions of 'guitar heroics'. As a songwriter too – from early Feelgood favourites like 'Back in the Night' to the power and poetry of 'Dr. Dupree' and 'Sneaking Suspicion' he has proved himself one of the best and most original exponents of rhythm'n'blues styles this side of the Atlantic. The list of '70s New Wave bands who acknowledge the influence of Wilko and the Feelgoods is extensive and includes The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Jam, The Boomtown Rats, and across the Atlantic The Ramones and Blondie (who spent a whole night at a New York party wearing out their specially imported copy of the Feelgood's first album, 'Down by the Jetty').

After his abrupt departure from Dr. Feelgood in 1977 Wilko formed his own band, and over the next few years worked with several personnel of varying degrees of musical accomplishment and mixed moral character. In 1980, while continuing to work with his own 3-piece, Wilko entered the ranks of Ian Dury's brilliant Blockheads, co-writing writing several songs with Ian and featuring on the 'Laughter' album. Then in 1985 the Block's sensational and much loved bassist Norman Watt-Roy joined Wilko, and when Monti took over the drums in 1999, the classic Wilko Johnson Band had arrived. They have never been off the road since and have startled and blasted audiences from Helsinki to Madrid, Aberdeen to Istanbul, Toulouse to Tokyo. Monti's stool at the drums has recently been taken by the much revered Dylan Howe, also of the Blockheads, and this has raised the band to an even greater level of musical mastery and manic brilliance.

In 2008 the highly acclaimed film director Julien Temple set out to make a documentary film about the birth and all too brief phenomenon of Dr. Feelgood. 'Oil City Confidential' was premiered in October 2009 to very great critical acclaim and has lead to a recent frenzy of interest in Wilko, the eccentric star of the film.
Watch out! Some surprising developments are afoot....

"You play like I used to when I was young" - BB King"

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OTIS GRAND, the Gentle Giant of the Blues, has absorbed a wide spectrum of Blues styles in the past four decades and now leads the hottest TRUE Blues and R & B band around today. More importantly, he not only carries the real blues TORCH for the heros of yesterday, his superb blues guitar technique and playing and originality and a tight band that rocks mean, Otis Grand also sets the standards for many others to follow which ensure that he is at the top of the Blues scene for many years to come.

Otis Grand has pioneered the big band blues sound over the last few years, starting with a West Coast R&B band and now moving into his present guitar led Big City style Blues. For the past ten years Otis has recieved a number of Awards including UK BLUES GUITARIST OF THE YEAR ( 1990- 96), Best Blues Albums, Best Band, and nominations to the prestigious W.C. HANDY BLUES Awards in Memphis, Tenn.Surely testimony enough of the man's ability and dedication to the Blues.

Anyone who has experienced the Gentle Giant of the Blues in action can bear witness to the devastating effect he and his band can have on the audience. His gigs are now legendry, drawing acclaim from purists and from those who come looking for a good night out.Otis has toured consantly turning in consistently great performances, building a big following and confirming his "numero uno" status in Europe.

On his 1992 CD, the esteem with which Otis is now held by his many friends in the Blues World is evident by the stature of those musicians who have joined him on "HE KNOWS THE BLUES". Critics have already claimed it to be "...one of the best contemporary blues records heard for a long,long time". ( source : Tony Burke - Editor, Blues & Rhythm Magazine )

Not content with having become the Undisputed leader of the British Blues Scene, Otis goes on to attack the USA & Canada head on and comes out with a clear winner with his new 1994 CD. Recorded in Boston,mass. "NOTHING ELSE MATTERS .." shows where he's coming from and where he intends to go!.This CD has already recieved the highest critical acclaim for a new artist (see News/Articles Page..), and has also hit no. 6 on The prestigious USA HARD REPORT TOP 20 BLUES CHART.

Otis Grand's music career spans over 25 years. Otis Grand has played a major role in the evolution of the modern blues scene in Britain.

Celebrating thirty years of the iconic film Breaking Glass, award winning singer-songwriter Hazel O'Connor makes her long awaited return with the full band to Southampton in this very special one-off show.

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30TH ANNIVERSARY BREAKING GLASS - 2010
Hazel O'Connor & The Subterraneans Featuring Clare Hirst On Sax Hazel Sings Breaking Glass - LIVE!

"The year was 1980. The UK slid into recession and inflation stood at 18 per cent. Amid the doom and gloom - a film that captured the era precisely and made an unknown singer-songwriter from Coventry into a star. Breaking Glass launched the career of Hazel O'Connor. Now thirty years on, she's about to perform the entire soundtrack from the film - live on stage for the first time." - Andy Bevan ITV

Celebrating thirty years of the iconic film Breaking Glass, award winning singer-songwriter Hazel O'Connor makes her long awaited return with the full band to Southampton in this very special one-off show. As a grand finale to a hectic 30th Anniversary year of touring, Hazel and The Subterraneans, augmented by stunning saxophonist Clare Hirst and long time collaborator, (Bellestars, Communards, Maxi Priest, David Bowie) perform all the songs from this groundbreaking film, live at The Brook for the first time.

BREAKING GLASS LIVE melds Hazel's superb vocals with Clare's exquisite sax and The Subterraneans' own distinctive blend of guitars, bass and drums. Relive those classic tracks from Will You and Eighth Day to previously un-performed gems including Writing on The Wall and Top of The Wheel – all seem even more relevant in our present times.
"... this is the first time ever I have played all of the songs from Breaking Glass in a live situation ... we recorded them but when we went on the road, we didn't sing every one and now we are doing them all. It's kind of amazing," says Hazel.

Hazel O Connor with her sultry vocals is no stranger to the live scene and she continues to woo and delight audiences worldwide. Consistently recording and touring, Hazel took to the road with a stage show about her amazing life story, Beyond Breaking Glass. It took Edinburgh by storm in 1998 and again in 2008 and has toured the world. The impossibility of performing classic new wave songs accompanied only by the celebrated Irish harp player, Cormac De Barra, has been wooing audiences since those first shows, all those years ago. Hazel is also currently performing in an exciting new format with The Bluja Project which toured to sell out audiences earlier this year and also features Clare Hirst and the multi-talented pianist Sarah Fisher. Hazel has recorded a studio album every couple of years since Breaking Glass was released in 1980, and several live albums including Eighth Day Live In Brighton a DVD with The Subterraneans.

"The expressive power of her singing, her songwriting craft and warm, strong personality..." The Times

Formed in 1998, The Subterraneans are on vocals, Tony Dangerfield (Wonderland), on guitars Mark Roberts (Chris Evans, TFI Fridays) and Andy Shortland (Doctor AndThe Medics, Cloven Hoof), bass guitarist Kevin Lomas (Wonderland, Roy Wood, 2-Tone Collective) and drummer Steve Tombs who has worked with all of the others at some stage.
"It's all there, that voice, soaring sax, layered drums and textured guitar riffs...timeless..." Glastonbury Festival

Stop Press: BREAKING GLASS NOW Hazel O'Connor, The Subterraneans and Clare have recorded all the Breaking Glass songs plus some bonus tracks and these will be available on download and the old fashioned way. Full details on the websites.

"The sturdiness and earthy expression of her voice...marvellous" Hot Press

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LEGEND are seven great musicians and singers dedicated to the life and music of the late, great Bob Marley

This dynamic band, led by the charismatic Michael Anton Phillips (Cheesy) has a pedigree second to none, whose members have worked with such reggae greats as:

The Mighty Diamonds, The Original Wailers, Dennis Brown, Rankin Roger, The Beat, Burning Spear, Apache Indian, Errol Dunkley, George and Desmond Decker, Musical Youth plus many more.

Legend's two hour show covers the very best of Bob Marley and The Wailers timeless classics: These are just a few of his million selling hits brought to you in this fantastic two hour tribute to the acknowledged the King of reggae. The musicianship is flawless, with that irresistible reggae groove compelling you to move and the presence of Bob Marley him self invoked in the skilled and respectful portrayal by Michael and the Band.

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Mark Olver

"A genuine feel good show" **** 
Chortle

"Olver has a great story to tell"
The List

"Cheerful and funny"
Guardian

"King of comedy""
BBC Radio

"Vocally and bodily fluent, he juggles a quick thinking
reactiveness with student friendly empathy"
Venue Magazine

Mark Olver: "Say Something" 2007
"Warm and personal but with a real sense of risk…great material
as well, which rings more fun out or describing an endoscopy and
a funeral than it would be reasonable to expect…you'll be glad
you spent an hour in his company."
Tom Hackett, Fest Magazine

"Forceful Style and excellent interaction skills."
Sam Healy, The List

"Big , warm and engaging comedian."
Jay Richardson, Edinburgh Festivals Magazine

"What's different here, though, is how gentle he is with his
audience, his relaxing bonhomie coaxing genuinely interesting
tales instead of the usual drunken banter."
Ben East, Metro 

Mark Olver: "Happy Accidentally" 2006

"He instinctively creates a vibrant, happy atmosphere, and
one that's even better because of it's spontaneity…
[this] all contributes to the feeling you're sharing a unique
experience"
Chortle

Richard Morton

Stand up comedian, singer, songwriter and winner of the Time Out Comedy Award Richard Morton is now a regular on Channel 5.

You can see him on the Comedy Store Show and on the retro quiz show WowFab Groovy.  He's also had his own half hour special Richard Morton Live At The Comedy Store.  Guest appearances on other Channel 5 shows include Jack Docherty Chat Show, Tibs & Fibs, Night Fever and Live & Dangerous.

ITV appearances include Jack Dee's Saturday Night, Funny Business (both Granada), Good Stuff (Carlton) and The Richard Morton Christmas Special (Tyne Tees Yorkshire).

BBC TV appearances include Gag Tag, The Stand Up Show as well as an acting role in the BAFTA nominated Our Friends In The North.  Richard also had several acting roles in C4's Jack and Jeremy's Real Lives series.

A regular on BBC radio, he'll be featured on the new series of Stand Up 2. And Four At The Store, He's a frequent contributor to Loose Ends and The Locker Room and played alongside Caroline Quentin in Cross Questioned.  He has also appeared in Radio 1's Comedy Network, Loose Talk and the classic Just A Minute.

Richard has built up a formidable reputation as a live stand up, having completed several UK tours with Jack Dee, Lee Evans, Jo Brand, Lily Savage and Phill Jupitus. 

A big favourite at the Edinburgh Festival Richard  has completed several sell-out runs at the Assembly Rooms.  Other festivals have included the Montreal Comedy Festival, Kilkenny, and The Reading & Leeds Music Festivals. 

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One of music's most uncompromising and complex individuals, Steve Hackett has earned the reputation of being one of Britain's finest composers and guitarists. Originally a key member of the 'classic' Genesis his complex and distinctive playing contributed heavily to their early success, developing an elegance and sophistication which have since become his trademark. He has since achieved consistent solo success internationally in both the rock and classical arenas.

Born in London in 1950, Steve was already playing harmonica as a four-year-old and by 12 was experimenting with his father's guitar. During his teens he played with various bands in his spare time and had already started to place advertisements in Melody Maker in search of like-minded musicians. One of those ads was answered by Peter Gabriel and Steve gave up his day job to join him in Genesis for £15 a week.

Within a couple of years sell-out tours ensued across Europe and America and they were on their way to becoming one of the best loved bands of that decade and beyond. For most Genesis fans the Hackett years and the albums they recorded together represent the definitive Genesis. Some would even go further, saying that when Steve left, the true spirit of the band went with him, reappearing only on his solo albums, now totalling twenty one and covering a vast range from screaming blues to the most refined classical.

In 1975 Steve's first solo album, Voyage Of The Acolyte, featured band colleagues Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford and was greeted with rave reviews.

By 1977 Steve had decided it was time to diversify his music further and move on from the band. Since then they've enjoyed a couple of reunions, one at Milton Keynes to support Peter Gabriel's WOMAD project and another at a charity concert for Tadworth Children's Hospital.

Please Don't Touch (1978) was Steve's next solo project and included guests such as Richie Havens, Steve Walsh of KANSAS and Randy Crawford - who Steve had discovered singing in a downtown Chicago nightclub. "I wanted to get the most diverse and eclectic tracks that I could together on one album; a style mix between a European, structured approach to rock and a spartan Black American sound".

With his own regular team of musicians gathered, Steve started touring and released two further albums, Spectral Mornings (1979) and Defector (1980), both Top 10 albums in the UK and Europe. The strong lyrical instrumentals combined with the cutting edge of his guitar style not only received critical acclaim but were consistently used for many films and TV programmes.

On his next album, Cured (1981), Steve abandoned the group feel for a high-tech sound, though still working with regular collaborator Nick Magnus. Ian Mosely joined on drums for 1983's Highly Strung, another very successful album which produced the hit single Cell 151.

During his time with Genesis Steve had become known for his intricate solo passages on classical guitar - "I have always believed that one half of me was born to be an acoustic guitar player, the other half to play rock guitar and to do both with equal passion". Thus Bay Of Kings (1983) with Steve on acoustic guitar accompanied by his brother John on flute was a natural progression. Although not strictly speaking a classical musician, Steve endeavours to enlarge the existing classical repertoire by writing timeless pieces for acoustic guitar. One of these was given the seal of approval by Yehudi Menuhin when he used it as the theme to his television documentary "From Kew To The Findhorn Foundation".

Steve and his brother enjoyed a hugely successful acoustic tour during which the Financial Times reported that the only two concerts which had sold out the Barbican that year were The London Symphony Orchestra and Steve Hackett!

He followed this up in 1984 with another rock album, Till We Have Faces - the first album to be recorded using surround-sound 'ambisonic' techniques. The record was heavily influenced by time spent in Brazil and was recorded there with local musicians, presaging the subsequent trend towards 'World Music'.

In 1986 Steve formed GTR with Steve Howe. The venture produced a Top 10 US single - When The Heart Rules The Mind - and a platinum album as well as attracting immense media coverage from MTV and nationwide press and radio. It was noted by TIME magazine and BILLBOARD that during one two week period that August all of the current and past members of Genesis had albums in the Billboard Top 20! A total of five albums between them.

During this period with GTR Steve also found time to guest on the A Box Of Frogs album with such greats as Jimmy Page, Ian Dury and Rory Gallagher.

In the Spring of 1988 Steve released a second acoustic collection, Momentum, again recorded with his brother John on flute. They toured extensively throughout Britain and Europe that year and in the Soviet Union Steve entertained a record-breaking crowd of over 90,000 with just one nylon strung guitar. It is precisely this ability to successfully bridge the two ends of the musical spectrum that has earned him the admiration both of rock contemporaries and leading classical players and in 1992 he realised a long held ambition by collaborating with the London Chamber Orchestra on a performance of Vivaldi's Guitar Concerto at London's prestigious South Bank. Later that year he assembled a brand new band and toured the United States in support of his live collection Time Lapse.

1993 saw Hackett take yet another new direction with Guitar Noir, which, as the title suggests, explores the deeper shadows of composition and of the instrument. This inspired combination of layered textures of sounds showed off some of Steve's most adventurous soundscapes this far.

In 1994 he produced Blues With A Feeling, his own interpretation of some of the music which had originally inspired him. It's little known that Steve's first musical adventures were as a jobbing harmonica player and the 'poor man's trumpet' is beautifully showcased on this record alongside the soaring virtuoso guitar for which he is best known.

During the same year Steve once again took to the road accompanied by keyboardist Julian Colbeck and presented a series of 'unplugged' concerts in locations such as Belgium, Austria, Germany, Holland, Romania, Estonia, Venezuela and Italy where a live acoustic album, There Are Many Sides To The Night, was recorded. The shows featured pieces from Steve's acoustic albums together with new arrangements of some old favourites and a few forays into uncharted territory, all of which combined to bring the acoustic guitar firmly into the `90's and beyond.

Rearrangement was also on the menu the following year with Genesis Revisited, Steve's affectionate reimagining of the band of which he had been such a key part. Featuring a host of special guests including The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Steve took the cream of Genesis' classic repertoire and, as he eloquently put it, presented it "as you've never seen or heard it, but perhaps occasionally dreamt it ....". Encouraged by the album's positive reception, Steve took to the stage in Japan accompanied by John Wetton, Ian McDonald & Chester Thompson to perform a selection of material from their collective back catalogues. A double album and video of these unique performances was captured and released as The Tokyo Tapes, much to the delight of fans around the world.

Meanwhile A Midsummer Night's Dream had been recorded for EMI Classics, again with The Royal Philharmonic. Released in 1997, it was Steve's largest classical work to date and his debut as an orchestral composer. A beguiling tone-poem for Classical Guitar and symphony orchestra, it was quite an audacious undertaking for an ex-blues harmonica player and self-taught guitarist. The album spent several weeks in the Top 10 of the UK classical charts and was described by Classic FM's Nick Bailey as "the best new classical album I've heard all year". The cognoscenti of the classical world had realised what many already knew …..

If there were any doubts that the cinematic dreamscapes of Genesis Revisited and A Midsummer Night's Dream had made a lasting impact, 1999's Darktown would have swiftly dispelled them. In his first all-new studio album since Guitar Noir Steve picked up where the earlier album left off but proceeded to take it several thrilling and chilling steps further into dusky phantasmagoria. Memorably described at the time as "a thrilling musical journey through scenes, stories and psycho-dramas … a theme-park ride through one man's consciousness" it somehow manages to reconcile hi-velocity rock with classical orchestra and lilting ballads with electronic soundscapes. A compelling statement from start to finish, Darktown is one of those rare albums that demands not only to be heard, but to be listened to.

Equally engaging, but in every other way a complete contrast, was Steve's next release, 2001's Sketches Of Satie. Arranged solely for flute and classical guitar throughout, Sketches is a connoisseur's selection from the catalogue of French composer Erik Satie. Featuring some of his most famous and beautiful works including the Gymnopédies and Gnossiennes and widely praised in the Classical press, Sketches Of Satie illuminates some of the 20th century's most beautiful and accessible music, and was described, in a typically Satie-esque paradox, as "the timeless folk music of a culture yet to exist".

Feedback 86 was released later the same year but came from a different direction altogether. It was a vintage album in every sense of the word. Though first recorded in 1986 it languished in the vaults for some 15 years until complex contractual problems were resolved. Still, the `80s loss proved the `00s gain as Steve and a storming line-up including Queen guitarist Brian May, Bonnie Tyler and Ian Mosley and Pete Trewavas of Marillion gives us a tantalising glimpse of what the second GTR album might have been like.

As 21st century advances in recording technology became ever more amazing, so it became possible to bring archive recordings from different decades up to the necessary standard for CD release. To the chagrin of bootleggers everywhere, the box set Live Archive 70/80/90s leapt from the vaults in 2001, replete with the excitement of three of Steve's favourite shows from across the decades. With the recordings legally available for the very first time, this definitive 4 album compendium features great performances of a hefty chunk of Steve's 'greatest hits' and allows fascinating comparisons between different versions across the years.

The early rays of the new millennium also found Steve contributing the music for a documentary film entitled Outwitting Hitler. "Chris Ward, the director, already knew my work and called up to pitch us a film, which was work in progress at that point." The finished score included some material intended for a future guitar and orchestra project, as Steve explained: "We plundered some of the future and we plundered some of the past…they needed the soundtrack pretty fast".

Steve continued to tour throughout 2000, 2001 and 2002, managing to visit 3 different continents with both electric and acoustic shows. The acoustic trio – comprising Steve, John Hackett on flute and Roger King on keyboards – have travelled to Japan, Italy, Hungary and Malta, where they became the first 'amplified' act ever to play Valetta's beautiful and historic Manoel Theatre. However, it was Eastern Europe that provided the setting for the the DVD/2CD set Hungarian Horizons - Live In Budapest, which, along with Somewhere In South America - Live In Buenos Aires, serves as a fine distillation of the Steve Hackett live experience.

2002 also saw a remarkable series of appearances with classical percussionist Evelyn Glennie, culminating in the premiere performance of The City In The Sea, a semi-structured composition especially written by Steve for the event and performed "without a safety net" and full of improvisation, in front of a mesmerised crowd at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall.

"The style of music that I have been working on with my band, particularly some of the 'live' work, I've been calling 'Collision'…as when worlds collide …". A quote from Steve Hackett referring to his 2003 line-up, but one which could also easily be applied to Guitar Wars. This unique event, a celebration of Hard Rock Café's 20th anniversary in Japan, brought together "super guitarists" from different genres and backgrounds. So it was that Steve shared the spotlight for three nights with Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, Paul Gilbert of Mr. Big and Extreme's Nuno Bettencourt. A fabulous time, was, apparently, had by all.

In 2003 Steve's latest album of new 'rock' material was released, To Watch The Storms. Largely recorded with his band it saw the reappearance of many of the Hackett compositional trademarks which graced earlier classics such as Voyage of the Acolyte and Spectral Mornings. The album covered a diverse range and has proved to be in the tradition of Steve's most enduring work - a satisfying and subtle album which rewards repeated listening with new levels of detail and insight.

'Metamorpheus', the latest project, is the natural successor to 1997's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and is Hackett's fifth classical project, combining nylon guitar with 'The Underworld Orchestra', seamlessly linking small and large musical forces. Metamorpheus is a remarkable piece of work, the product of a man who loves all musical instruments equally and possesses the tenacity to forge them into one.

"Whenever I heard the Underworld Orchestra I kept thinking of Blake, and those 'Bows of Burning Gold' every time their efforts made the music sing! A once in a lifetime experience to work with such a skilled and dedicated team," remarked Hackett.

As he enters his fourth decade as a professional musician Steve Hackett remains true to his muse, someone who cannot be easily packaged but forges restlessly onward in pursuit of his myriad artistic goals. Often imitated but never equalled, his reputation rests on sheer talent and a never failing ability to challenge and intrigue his audience. He is an inspiration to successive generations of musicians who applaud him the world over.

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I KNOW THAT NAME charted in July and received massive radio airplay support. It was followed by Paul's own version of 'I Don't want to hear any more' (which had Don Henley & Timothy Shmidt from The Eagles providing backing vocals!!! and then the superb ballad 'I don't want your love, I need your love' both from the album and received major UK airplay.
September was busy with TV appearances in Spain and live dates with the full band in Holland.

In October were TV shows in Holland and Germany, a Jools Holland radio broadcast, a guest appearance with Holland's biggest star, Marco Borsato at the Gelredrome in Arnhem for 8 sell out shows performing to 32,000 people each night and then on his return started the annual UK tour in Bournemouth in October which ended in March 2009, followed by 5 days in Germany. April brought 3 sell out dates at the prestigious Ronnie Scott's in London and was followed by 4 dates in Holland at Easter.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT was the fourth single to be released from the current album and received extensive radio airplay.
In May Paul and the band performed at the Worms Festival in Germany, and did a ZDF live television appearance. Paul also did a very successful live broadcast on Radio 2 with the BBC Concert Orchestra.  On May 29th Paul and his band were special guests of The Eagles in Malmo Stadium, Sweden and on May 30th at The Aarhus Stadium, Denmark.

June 2 to 7 Paul and his band toured Germany and on Wednesday 24th they appeared at Kiel Summer Festival.  July and August brought more work for Paul and the band in Holland, Germany, Ireland and the UK and 2 more guest appearances with The Eagles on Sat 4th of July at Hampden Park, Glasgow and Sat 18th July at Arnhem Gelredome, Netherlands plus an appearance at Carrickfergus Castle, Belfast with Jools Holland and his band. August and October saw Paul and the band in Germany and Holland once again. 

The next single taken from the 'I Know that Name' album, JUST 4 TONITE was a fun, reggae style track that received extensive national airplay which led to the 50 date UK tour between October 2009 and March 2010 being billed as the 'Just 4 Tonite' tour.
Paul Carrack was the guest vocalist on the track 'Soul to Soul' on the London Community Gospel Choir's new album, recently previewed on the Weekend Wogan show on BBC Radio 2.

Paul could be heard extensively throughout the summer on national radio with the superb 'IF I DIDN'T LOVE YOU'  also taken from the I Know That Name album.

Gigs in the summer of 2010 for Paul and his band included dates in Denmark, Germany, Spain and Switzerland . Paul is currently recording a new album with the London Philharmonic Orchestra to be released in September 2010 to co-incide with the extensive forthcoming October to March UK tour.

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Guitarist, vocalist, composer, producer and arranger, Steve Lukather is set to release his new solo album All's Well That Ends Well on Monday 11th October 2010.

The founding member of Toto, Lukather will showcase his innate feel for rock and jazz guitar music, along with his song writing talents. The new album is laden with extraordinary guitar playing performed across some of the best and most emotional songs of Steve's career.

Fee Waybill of the Tubes is featured on backing vocals and contributes to some of the co-song writing with CJ Vanston and Lukather.

Track Listing:

1. Darkness In My World
2. On My Way Home
3. Can't Look Back
4. Don't Say It's Over
5. Flash In The Pan
6. Watching The World
7. You'll Remember
8. Brodie's
9. Tumescent
Running time 47:21

Album will be released in 3 versions:
M 7308 1 Vinyl
M 7308 2 Jewel case CD
M 7322 2 Limited Edition CD (Details will follow, first print run only)

"I'm very excited because I have some great new music," says Lukather. "I am trying for a personal best and working very hard on all aspects of music. It's a journey that's for sure."

For over 30 years Lukather has been known as one of the founding members of the multi million selling band 'Toto'. He has played on hundreds of albums with the biggest stars and music legends including Van Halen, Whitney Houston, Alice Cooper, George Benson, Cher, Rod Stewart and even played guitar on Michael Jackson's multi-million selling milestone album 'Thriller'.

Along with several Grammy Awards over the years, in April 2010 he received the international Eddy Christiani Award for 33 years of guitar mastership.

To coincide with the release of the album, Steve will embark on a European tour in November that will take in concerts in Belgium, Holland, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland and England.

The concerts will showcase classics from his all his solo albums, Toto, plus tracks from his new album.

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Mike Peters is known primarily as frontman of the internationally acclaimed Welsh band The Alarm. Mike is also an inspirational solo acoustic performer and (as a two times cancer survivor), founder of what is now regarded as the world's leading rock and roll cancer charity 'Love Hope Strength Foundation'.

Mike Peters has played an acoustic guitar all his musical life and and the sound of the instrument has been at the core of all his work from the very beginnings of The Alarm to the present day.

Achieving over 15 Top 40 UK singles and over 5 million album sales worldwide along the way, Mike Peters' musical journey has seen him sing with some of history's greatest performers such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young & Bono. Mike has also taken his trusty acoustic guitar to some of the world's highest elevations performing at 'The Highest Ever Concert On Land' at 18,500 feet on Mt. Everest (2007), and more recently at 19,380 feet at the summit of Kilimanjaro.

Mike Peters formed The Alarm in 1981, first becoming successful soon after with classic singles such as 'Sixty Eight Guns' and 'Rain In The Summertime' and building a reputation for all out shows based on their thoughtful and challenging music.

In 1992, Mike Peters and The Alarm became one of the first bands to have a dedicated internet site www.thealarm.com <http://www.thealarm.com> and in that same year, founded The Gathering, the annual Mike Peters-hosted 'Alarm' event held in North Wales which now attracts fans from all over the world.

Throughout most of the 1990's Mike Peters took a step back from The Alarm, beginning with the release of 'Breathe' in 1994 (which debuted at number 5 in the U.K. independent charts). A second solo album, 'Feel Free' (1996) documented Mike Peters' first battle with cancer (Non Hodgkins Lymphoma). Rejecting conventional treatment, Mike Peters went to see of a faith healer instead, and continued to tour extensively in the UK, Europe and USA. Upon being told that 'green' was a powerful colour in his life, Mike Peters wore green combat fatigues every day until he eventually went into spontaneous remission.

In 2000, it was time for Mike Peters to reconvene The Alarm once more, touring in support of the groundbreaking 'The Alarm Complete Collection' (the band's entire 1980's musical output in a nine-CD box set, along with a ground-breaking bonus 'audio dedication' CD personally recorded by Mike Peters). Never before or since, has such a gesture been undertaken by a recording artist.

In 2004, The Alarm released the controversial '45 R.P.M.' single in the U.K. under the pseudonym 'The Poppy Fields' and entered the UK charts at number 27, immediately becoming the subject of an international news story. The furore centered around the fact that The Alarm's identity had been kept hidden from the media and instead a stand-in group of 18 year old musicians appeared in the video. '45 R.P.M.' was played throughout the UK and championed by unsuspecting DJ's and critics as the first release by a brand new band. It was only after the song entered the charts that The Alarm revealed the true identity of 'The Poppy Fields', thus causing a storm of worldwide media speculation. The band even featured on prime time America's CBS News with Dan Rather. (The story has subsequently become the inspiration for a film entitled 'VINYL' which will be shot in the U.K. this summer by 'Shrek ' producer, John H. Williams and British film director Sara Sugarman).

In 2006, Mike Peters' life journey entered into it's darkest phase when, just days before the release of the hit single 'Superchannel' (from the album 'Under Attack'), he was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). Throughout a six month spell of hardcore chemotherapy, Mike continued to play and perform, taking to the stage each time in his trademark 'green' combat fatigues and taking the first steps in beginning the Love Hope Strength Foundation by leading a host of Alarm fans to the summit of Snowdon to raise funding for the local cancer care centre in North Wales that had helped put Mike on the road to recovery. A revealing and insightful BBC documentary was screened in October 2007 chronicling Mike Peters' inspiring story.

Since then, Mike has embarked on a series of remarkable journeys to raise funding for cancer care both locally and globally, In 2007, his travels took him to Nepal where he inspired a team of musicians, cancer survivors and supporters on a trek to Mt. Everest to perform an acoustic unplugged concert at 18,500 feet (The World's Highest Concert on land), filmed by VH1 America and currently screening in the USA as 'Everest Rocks'. The trek was instrumental in providing Nepal with it's first mammography machine which is now housed at the Bhaktapur Cancer Centre.

In 2008, The Alarm released 'Guerilla Tactics via an audacious acoustic concert in New York's Times Square and along with the prophetic 'Three Sevens Clash' gate-crashed America's airwaves once more, reaching number 3 on Billboard's Rock Alternative Chart. In the autumn of that same year, Mike Peters led 62 trekkers along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu for 'Peru Rocks' and raised enough funds to provide the cancer centre in Lima with a specialised bus that travels to remote villages in order to offer care and early detection facilities for those living outside of the reach of modern medical practices.

More recently, Mike spearheaded a 25-strong team to Africa for 'Kilimanjaro Rocks' , where after an arduous climb they performed at Uhuru (Freedom) Peak at 19,340' atop the summit of Kilimanjaro.

Mike Peters is currently preparing for the release of a brand new Alarm album 'Direct Action', to be released on April 12th 2010 and remains as passionate as ever about his music, Wales and charity Love Hope Strength. When he was first diagnosed with cancer in 1995, quitting music wasn't an option and he is now in his second remission from Leukaemia and still challenging himself and his audience through music and the outreach of his charitable actions. In his own words and from the title of one of his own songs "Never give it up without a fight".

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A NEW IRISH GUITAR HERO

MOJO "Hugely accomplished"

Hifi+ "Ireland has a knack of throwing up diamonds, of which McBride most definitely is one....this boy's going places."

Guitarist  "He's a fret-meltingly intense soloist & a great slide player. Lovers of quality blues-rock step right this way."

Classic Rock Society  "Songwriting & singing are excellent &there's blistering guitar work. Catch him before he goes mega".

The SINCE THEN tour      UK: May 1-13

Former Young Guitarist of The Year and now fully-fledged blues-rock virtuoso, Irishman McBride
comes off playing to thousands of people each night when he opened for Joe Satriani on his UK tour, to playing more modestly-sized venues; but it represents the start of what many industry pundits are predicting will be a glittering career alongside the likes of American blues-rocker, Joe Bonamassa.

His latest album SINCE THEN has wow'd critics, prompting Classic Rock magazine to say "At last Irishmen in pubs will stop going on about Rory Gallagher!"

Simon started playing the guitar when he was ten. By age 15 and entirely self-taught he was good enough to enter Guitarist Magazine's Young Guitarist of The Year, a performance competition staged at Wembley Conference Centre, which he won against strong competition.

A few months after his sixteenth birthday Simon was recruited by the Belfast-based pioneering metal band Sweet Savage, who reformed in 1994 without their founding guitarist, Vivian Campbell (Dio, Def Leppard), who Simon replaced.  Simon toured with the band and recorded two albums, Killing Time 1996 and Rune 1998.

After leaving Sweet Savage in 1998, he joined fellow Irishman Andrew Strong, who made his name in the 1991 cult film The Commitments and went on to a successful singing career. Playing with Strong was in stark contrast to Sweet Savage. As Simon says, the change of musical style was a useful and enjoyable learning experience. He spent six years touring with Strong before leaving to pursue the idea of a solo career.

In 2008 he released his debut solo album, Rich Man Falling ("Blues Rock Par Excellence" CLASSIC ROCK). The band was targeted initially at continental Europe and with representation by Live Nation played major festivals. Now McBride starts his ascent in the UK. As well as Satriani, he has opened in the UK and Ireland for Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa and US slide maestro and Grammy nominee Derek Trucks.

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SLIM CHANCE
Plays RONNIE LANE - Reformed but Unrepentant!
(I'd rather take the storm than be becalmed' – Ronnie Lane, 32ND Street)

When Ronnie Lane walked out of the Faces in 1973, he said he was doing so to reconnect with the good-time spirit which first inspired him to pick up the guitar, as a mod in east London ten years earlier.

Slim Chance was the group he founded to play music in line with this inspiration. Initially part of Ronnie's Passing Show, the group travelled from gig to gig like a circus family, performing in Ronnie's own Big Top. The group and the show enabled Ronnie to develop a unique approach to stagecraft and songwriting - open, humourous, direct. This was a new good-time music that weathered the storm and influenced a generation of young musicians.

Slim Chance is now reforming, to revive this spirit once again, and to share Ronnie's inspiration. The band will feature Steve Simpson on vocals, guitar, mandolin and fiddle and Charlie Hart on accordion, fiddle, keys and vocals. They are joined by original Slim Chancers, Colin Davey and Alun Davies, and the line-up will be completed by a bass player and a keyboard player t.b.a..

The new set will include classic Ronnie songs such as How Come, The Poacher, Annie, Don't Try and Change my Mind, Kuschty Rye, Debris, and Ooh La La. There will be occasional appearances by special guests, twin-fiddle features - the 'Fishpool Filharmonic' - and an emphasis at all times on
good-time entertainment as an integral part of the music.

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Keeping the spirit and songs of the legendary Zep alive with their unique energy and stage presence , Whole Lotta led play to over 40,000 enthusiastic fans every year.They don't try and reproduce what the Classic Led Zeppelin line up looked like because for these guys it's all about the music, And what music.

With recent 3 page review in the Sunday Express and live footage on the BBC 6 o'clock News this band go from strength to strength. Whether a fan of the original Led Zeppelin or new to the sound come and be astounded by the music of Led Zeppelin .

Given the thumbs-up by no less a guitar god than Jimmy Page himself , Whole Lotta led are THE Led Zeppelin tribute band

Hailing from England Whole Lotta Led are now considered by many to be one of the greatest tributes to Led Zeppelin around. Generally playing two and a half hour sets and over 100 concerts a year their enthusiasm on stage is unequalled, with a stage presence full of magnetism that all audiences feel and share.

They are all exceptional musicians in their own field and without realising it create much the same energy, flair and magic that still holds Led Zeppelin as one of thee largest and most influential bands the world has ever seen. New generations are getting involved in the Zeppelin experience, audiences at Whole Lotta Led gigs span four generations from six to sixty and for most it is the first opportunity of seeing Zeppelin's music performed live. It has been many years now since Zeppelin split up, tributes keep the music alive but when Whole Lotta Led recreate a Zeppelin concert they keep the music fresh. Uniquely for a tribute band they don't have the pretence of trying to look like former members of Zeppelin, their integrity and musicianship comes through in the passion for the music they play. Jimmy Page met them and gave his blessing to what they are achieving. The band also raises funds for The ABC Trust, a charity founded by Jimmy Page's wife to help under privileged children in Brazil. She keeps in touch with the band and informs Jimmy of there progress.

If you like Floyd and haven't seen them yet then sort it out you crazy diamond!

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Now, with the passing of Rick Wright in 2008 there will sadly never be the reunion that we all hoped for, but the music is timeless and will live on for many more years to come. How many 60's bands today are still attracting new and often young fans 40 years on?

Today, there are many bands trying to emulate this music, the most outstanding by far being Perfect Alibi. Founded in 1990 the hampshire based band have been described as "the definitive Pink Floyd tribute."

When Dave Blake (lead guitar) formed the band they were playing covers of classic rock songs by Pink Floyd, Marillion, Eagles, Neil Young and more. Being huge Floyd fans themselves and from the reaction and requests from the audiences, more and more of there songs crept their way in to the set until it got difficult to mix other material in. Realising this, a concert was staged in a theatre as a tester and Perfect Alibi emerged as a totally dedicated Pink Floyd tribute.

With Perfect Alibi, you have the chance to hear Pink Floyd songs as they are meant to be heard. The band are now widely respected and appreciated in their field, giving the audience a truly authentic reproduction of the music of Pink Floyd. With the emphasis on capturing the live Pink Floyd sound. With well over 40 songs in their repertoire, spectacular lighting/lasers/projections, this is a show not to be missed!

But don't take our word for it... judge for yourselves. You won't be disappointed!

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Described as 'The closest you will get now to seeing MICHAEL JACKSON Live' the electrifying Who's Bad show is coming from the USA to The Brook.

Wearing glitzy jackets, glittering gloves and 80s regalia, Who's Bad the ultimate Michael Jackson  Band is an infectious part  production that takes audiences on a musical expedition spanning three decades of Michael Jackson's chart topping music.
From ABC to You Rock My World, no song is forgotten in this electrifying revival of Pop Music's Royal Highness.

Founded in 2004 by Vamsi Tadepali and spearheaded by some of North Carolina's optimum musicians, Who's Bad has crafted an intricate performance complete with synchronised dance routines, blaring horn section and down-deep rhythms, each delivered with a precision that could only be superseded by the King himself.

Since their first standing room only concert, audiences have crowned them must see entertainment singing along as if the moves, the music and the memories belong to us all

"I stood at the side of the stage for the whole show in Nashville last week, Michael would have been proud"
Frank Dileo, Michael Jackson's long-time manager.

The song list is impressive and includes; ABC, Another Part of Me, Bad, Beat It, Ben, Billie Jean, Black or White, Blame it on the Boogie, Butterflies, Can you Feel It, Dancing Machine, Dirty Diana, Don't Stop Till You Get Enough, Earth Song, The Girl is Mine, Human Nature, Heartbreak Hotel, I Can't Help It, I'll Be There, I Want You Back, Jam, The Lady in My Life, The Love you Save, Man in the Mirror, Never Can Say Goodbye, Off the Wall, PYT, Remember the Time, Rock With You, Shake Your Body Down, She's Out of My Life, Smooth Criminal, Thriller, Wanna Be Startin' Something, The Way You Make Me Feel, Working Day and Night, You Are Not Alone, You Rock My World

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