Music

The New Year is almost upon us! If you have eaten too much pud and want to get out and about experiencing St Albans life, consider these events;

"The money raised will be used to pay for a Radio Station at the school - another way to let people develop their creative side." (R.Noden)

The Beautiful South’s co-founder Dave Hemingway’s new band SUNBIRDS play HERTFORD – Corn Exchange on Friday 31st March / MILTON KEYNES – MK11 on Saturday 6th May & ST ALBANS – The Horn on Sunday 7th May 2023. The man who once told us he loved us from the bottom of his pencil case, founder Beautiful South member Dave Hemingway returns with his new band SUNBIRDS announcing their dates for 2023.

The Alban Arena is a venue with a rich history of welcoming touring acts, some of which have gone on to world-wide fame - such as Dire Straits, who played there in 1978. I saw the legendary Rory Gallagher there in 1988, more recently The Waterboys and The Gorillaz have graced the stage. It is maybe a sign of the times that more tribute bands than original artists perform there these days. So when two of the UKs most respected musical artists were coming to the Alban Arena it was likely to be an evening not to be missed!

The top UK tribute to Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers is coming to the EMC Harpenden 18th November 2022 (moved from The Alban Arena). The band are based locally, in St. Albans and have been performing since 2018. During a 2+ hours show they perform the greatest songs of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. The performance will include early songs that brought Tom Petty to the attention of the world, such as American Girl, Breakdown & Refugee, through the ‘80s and early ‘90s with classics like Don’t Do Me Like That, Freefallin’, Runnin’ Down A Dream, I Won’t Back Down & Learning To Fly. Also highlights from the seminal album “Wildflowers” and his later albums. The show will also include the best songs from his time with The Traveling Wilburys, such as Handle With Care and End Of The Line, and duets with Stevie Nicks, such as Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around

On the Friday 21st March 2014 FLASH - a Tribute to Queen Live in Concert will be coming to The Radlett Centre, show starting 8pm. Tickets are £18.50 and £17.50 and you can book on 01923 859291. I interviewed Scott Maley, who plays Freddie Mercury, about the show, why a Queen tribute and and lots more. You can hear the interview below.

Hugh Cornwell is touring the UK in November 2019 to promote his new album 'Monster'. I was lucky enough to be able to speak with him for 20 or so minutes to ask a variety of questions about his musical influences, his career as part of The Stranglers, his solo career post-The Stranglers, the state of music and plans for the future. Also whether a reunion of The Stranglers original lineup could ever happen.

I've seen Think Floyd a few times now and they never disappoint. Of course playing the music of Pink Floyd means you have an amazing musical back catalogue to work through. And for the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd they did just that, playing something from each album. Personally I have little love for the very earliest and latest albums in their history, but it made for an opportunity to hear some pieces that I had long since forgotten. I could happily just have Dark Side of The Moon and Wish You Were Here back to back and go home smiling, so I suppose good to make me broaden my horizons.

Here comes the perfect tribute to a Beatles legend! A musical icon who was part of arguably the biggest band of all time will be honoured and remembered with a special show taking place at The Eric Morecambe Centre, Harpenden, on Friday 29th November 2024. Alongside John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, Harrison helped the band become the best-selling music act of all time with 600 million units shifted worldwide. After the Liverpudlian four-piece called time on Beatlemania, the songwriter enjoyed a successful solo career, releasing 12 studio albums, including Living In The Material World, Cloud Nine, Brainwashed, and the classic triple album All Things Must Pass.

ABBA Forever is one of the UK’s leading International tribute shows and theatre audiences from across Great Britain and Sweden have long enjoyed this superb recreation of possibly the world‘s greatest pop band. The unique Abba sound is replicated with an incredible attention to detail, using a six-piece band featuring electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards and piano, drums and bass guitar. Two outstanding Abba girls complete the line-up, adding the essential glitz and glamour to a well-polished and gently humorous show. The superb lyrics penned by Benny and Bjorn are sung in wonderful harmony by all six performers on stage.