Music

"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)

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.....

It's springtime again in our beautiful city and there are plenty of events going on in the theatres and other venues for you to get out and enjoy! Here are a few for you to choose from:

On Saturday 28th March 2015 , Elio will be performing the 'The Billy Joel Songbook' at The Radlett Centre, Radlett. With Billy Joel's reluctance to tour the world anymore, there are many fans out there that have never had the opportunity to hear his music live. This UK & Ireland tour will give everyone a fantastic opportunity to hear his wonderful songbook played and sung by the brilliant Elio Pace and his magnificent 6-piece band. The VERY FIRST EVER UK Billy Joel Songbook theatre tour has been booked to play at over 70 venues so far this year all over the UK & Ireland.

Michael Jackson might be gone but his wonderful music lives on thanks to performers like CJ who brought his show-stopping production to the stage of the Alban Arena on Friday, October 26. The spectacular show, a kind of cross between a Michael Jackson concert and a stage production, is truly sensational. CJ has the not-inconsiderable support of four well-drilled girl dancers , a top-class four-piece backing band, plus dazzling lighting effects and video footage shown on a big screen and keeping everything in context.

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.

Steve Harley celebrates his 50th year in music in 2022 and continues to play concerts around the world. He says that playing Live is more than a job, it’s almost his life’s blood. Considered one of the most charismatic Live performers at work today, the original Cockney Rebel tours with a full 6-piece rock band and also fronts the Steve Harley Acoustic Band.

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.

This is one of those Christmassy weekends where we are spoilt for choice in St Albans. From Peter Pan, Jingle Bell Jog to family carols and Handel's Messiah, it's all happening.....

There was a real family affair at the Alban Arena on January 20th. Friends, family and fans of the late great rock musician Jim Rodford gathered at the theatre to pay tribute to a local hero. At the side of the stage under a spotlight was a poignant reminder of the musician who had died in St Albans 12 months earlier – his bass guitar and hat.