Procol HarumBeyond
|
|
PH on stage | PH on record | PH in print | BtP features | What's new | Interact with BtP | For sale | Site search | Home |
|
Gary Brooker's office sent out the following Press Release for the Guildford gig:
Procol Harum are undoubtedly one of the best known and respected bands in the history of rock. Their very first single, the legendary A Whiter Shade of Pale, sold in excess of 10 million copies world-wide and has been covered by a huge array of artists from symphony orchestras to solo pianists, from The Everley Brothers to Annie Lennox.
Front man and founder member Gary Brooker has been an inspiration to many; his distinctive piano playing and unique ‘blue-eyed soul’ voice ensured that Procol Harum remained a cornerstone of British music for nearly three decades.
Gary has lived in the Guildford area for over 25 years and his annual Charity Christmas gigs with celebrity guests under the alias of No Stiletto Shoes have become renowned throughout the Surrey villages (but only for those ‘in the know’). This Christmas however, everyone’s invited when Gary Brooker and Friends make their début at Guildford Civic Hall on Friday 18th December.
Alongside Gary will be the usual line-up of Dave Bronze (bass guitar) and Henry Spinetti (drums) best known for their work with Eric Clapton; + Mick Abrahams of Blodwyn Pig, Andy Fairweather-Low, sax-player Nick Pentalow and vocalist Beverley Skeete.
Other guests are yet to be confirmed ...
| BtP learns that
some Very Luminous Celebrities indeed have been invited
but we are sadly not empowered to divulge names as
there's no confirmation that they will appear. Suffice it
to say that they are musical bedfellows of Gary's who
– if they were all billed as appearing – would
certainly sell out the theatre instantaneously. Draw your
own conclusions! They didn't appear ... but that didn't detract in any way from the excellence of the evening! We also had a Procol Harum bonus in the shape of Geoff Whitehorn and Mark Brzezicki. |
Gary has been very busy this year touring Europe alongside Jack Bruce and Peter Frampton with Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band. This band also performed in a special Charity Concert at Wintershall, Bramley on 5th September which raised 150,000 pounds for local charities. October saw Gary touring in Europe with Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings along with Georgie Fame, Albert Lee and of course Bill Wyman.
The support band is not short of celebrities either. The Robbie McIntosh Band will be taking the stage led by ex. Pretender / Paul McCartney lead guitarist, Robbie McIntosh (see here). His band consists of Mark Felton (harmonica) ex. Nine Below Zero and who’s just been touring with Oasis, Pino Palladino (bass) who’s worked with Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, pedal steel guitar player Melvin Duffy, well known for his work with Paul Young and Leo Sayer, and drummer Paul Beavis from Judy Tzuke and Robert Fripp’s bands. Robbie describes their music as Nashville meets Chicago. It’s a mix of original material and standards.
Tickets are on sale now, priced at 15 pounds standing and 20 pounds for balcony seating: call the Box Office now on 01483 444555.
Guildford Civic Theatre (nice website here)
London Road
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 2AA
Are you going to the concert? Then read this
PH on stage | PH on record | PH in print | BtP features | What's new | Interact with BtP | For sale | Site search | Home |