Music

From The Jam, featuring former The Jam bassist Bruce Foxton and Russell Hastings, bring their acoustic tour to Hertford Corn Exchange on 15th March. Box Offcie 01992584322. Bruce and Russell will be performing a selection of songs from The Jam’s extensive back catalogue and songs from Bruce’s new album Back In The Room as well as handing over the microphone to the audience for a question and answer session.

Review of the recent show by Darkside, Pink Floyd tribute show, at The Eric Morecambe Centre in Harpenden. Excellent show by an experienced and passionate tribute band that did justice to the music and legacy of one of the greatest rock bands of all time.

Romantic Russian music comes to St Albans Abbey on Saturday June 25th with performances of some of the most colourful and passionate scores ever composed for orchestra (7.30pm).

Appearing at Kimpton Memorial Hall on Saturday Feb 11th 2023 is the only show in the UK dedicated to performing the great songs of American classic rock, from late 1960s through to the 1990s. From The Eagles to The Doors, Fleetwood Mac to Tom Petty, Lynyrd Skynyrd to ZZ Top, Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, The Byrds and Neil Young and many points in between. American music is defined by rich harmonies and classic song-writing that evokes long open roads and small town life. During a 2+ hours show you will hear the best of American music.

Waiting For Katherine (WFk) will be playing tomorrow night (5th Feb, 8pm) at the Horn! I have heard of this great local band but I will finally get to see them in action this weekend!

I've just found time to add a post about the Alban Opera. I must admit to an interest here as I'm singing in the choir. So very busy for the next week with rehearsals and then 5 performances in 4 days.....

There are hundreds of would-be Sinatras and Bowies roaming the UK and earning a very good living but tribute acts playing the music of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are a little thin on the ground. Even rarer is a group of musicians who are perfectionists and go to great lengths to recreate the impressive, tuneful rock music created by the singer-songwriter-musician from Gainesville in Florida. Petty died one year ago at the relatively young age of 66 but his music will live on for future generations.

St Albans Operatic Society is proud to present Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at the Alban Arena, St Albans from Tuesday 13th to Saturday 17th October 2009. For those of you who don't know the show, or haven't seen the Jonny Depp film, it is a dark tale of love and revenge that is thrilling, chilling and, in places, extremely funny. The show won many awards on its debut 30 years ago and has starred a number of musical legends from Angela Lansbury, Sheila Hancock, Julia Mackenzie in the Mrs Lovett role to George Hearns, Dennis Quilley, Alun Armstrong, Johnny Depp and Bryn Terfel in the Todd role.

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

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.