Music

There has never been anything quite like The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, from their formation in 2002 and a cameo appearance at T in the Park in 2004 with the Darkness to opening the main stage in their own right in 2014. The past fifteen years has seen the Red Hot Chilli Pipers become the most famous bagpipe band on the planet…ever! Bagpipes with attitude, drums with a Scottish accent and a show that carries its own health warning. The band’s achievements have reached incredible heights with their groundbreaking fusion of traditional Scottish music and rock/pop Anthems which they proudly call “Bagrock”. The Red Hot Chilli Pipers are a genuinely unique experience.

Next Saturday, I will be enjoying 'old meets new' when the St Albans Symphony Orchestra, performs a musical journey under their new conducter Bjorn Bantock. The orchestra will play well-known and loved pieces like Dvorak's Symphony No 9.....

Broadway's golden age of musical theatre wouldn’t be what it is today without the incredibly talented Jewish composers and lyricists of the 20th century. Together they created an enduring legacy that is enjoyed by millions of people across the world every year.

Join Rich Hall and his virtuoso musical mates for a mash-up of music, comedy and gratuitous coloration as they return this spring with a UK tour of Rich’s infamous ‘Hoedown’ in spring 2017. In addition to two nights at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival (17th - 18th March) and four nights at London’s Leicester Square Theatre (5th - 8th April), Rich’s Hoedown will be touring the UK from March until July this year. The floor will reek of liquor and spent dreams.

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).

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!

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 have seen many tribute acts over the last several years, in various venues. Generally they try to look and sound like the original artist and give the audience the greatest hits. Totally Tina certainly did this, with clips of Tina herself at times, as well as stories of Tina during her career and the artists she sang duets with and the songs she chose to cover.

The Gig Cartel presents Hugh Cornwell Electric The Monster Tour. Coming to Harpenden Public Halls on Thursday 21st November 2019. 'Golden Brown, Strange Little Girl, Always The Sun, Peaches, No More Heroes, Nice & Sleazy.....sound familiar? All big hits, all great songs, all written and sung by Hugh Cornwell, the songwriter behind The Stranglers.   He is the hitman and he’s back with a new album ‘Monster’ this Autumn on Sony Music. Expect an opening set of prime solo songs, including picks from ‘Monster’, followed by a storming set of those iconic hits, sung and played by the man himself and his band.

Pull up your Xmas stockings and polish your baubles, Waiting For Katherine are coming to town!