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.

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Red Hot Chilli Dancers come to St Albans – Alban Arena on Friday 14th June 2024. In 2023 and 2024 the Red Hot Chilli Pipers will embark on a world tour to celebrate their 20th anniversary. The tour will be accompanied by the release of a first Best Of Live album in the Spring of 2023, featuring new recordings of all their best loved tunes and songs. The Pipers will be accompanied on the tour by the amazing Red Hot Chilli Dancers….It really is a sizzling show!

With sensational vocals, choreography, costumes and an awesome live band, The Best of WHAM! is an authentic musical journey that truly recaptures the full WHAM! experience. This non-stop 80s party will get audiences singing and dancing to all the greatest hits including ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’, ‘Freedom’ and ‘I'm your Man’. Can it really be 37 years since George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley formed one of the most enduring pop groups of the 80s? In four short years WHAM! sold more than 28 million records, topping the charts with three albums, four number one singles and eleven top ten hits.

Petty Criminals - the UK's top Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Tribute Band come to Harpenden Public Halls 2nd November 2019 to bring you an evening of classic rock in the shape of an American icon – one of the greatest songwriters and greatest bands of our time, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. The “Criminals” dig deep into the life, the music and the incredible influence of the man. You will experience Tom Petty’s legendary career through authentic performances and a huge catalogue of his music spanning four decades. From deep cuts to greatest hits, you’ll journey through early songs like American Girl, Breakdown & Refugee, through the ‘80s and early ‘90s with classics like Freefallin’, Runnin’ Down A Dream, I Won’t Back Down & Learning To Fly, with highlights from the seminal album “Wildflowers” and his later albums. This show is an unforgettable musical journey through the life and works of one of the greatest and much missed rock stars of our time.

Introducing Waterloo - The Best of Abba Tribute show presented by Sweeney Entertainments and Produced and Directed by James Baker. This brand new show celebrates the music of one of the best-selling music artists of all time - Abba. In 1974 the little known Swedish pop group Abba swept to superstardom with their Eurovision winning ‘Waterloo’, and four decades later the song and the band remain as popular as ever.

On the Sunday 16th February 2014 the Johnny Cash Roadshow 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 spoke to Clive John who performs as Johnny Cash in the show and asked him, various questions, such as - Why Johnny Cash? What is it about him or his music that appeals to you?

Regarded by many as one of the best live bands of the 80s, Sad Café are back. Original members Ian Wilson and bassist Des Tong are joined by long-time associate, singer/songwriter Sue Quin, the exciting vocal talent of Barry James Thomas and lead guitarist Dave Day along with multi-instrumentalist Neil Shaw-Hulme, keyboard player Matt Steele and drummer Bryan Hargreaves to once again perform their catalogue of great songs including the unforgettable Every Day Hurts, My Oh My, Strange Little Girl and many more. Support comes from Sunbirds. 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.

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!

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.

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.