A place for music and books
Folk legends Fairport Convention are kindly lending their support to Fifty Gigs In A Day. They play the Gala Theatre, Durham on Feb 8, as part of their annual winter tour – full details below. They play my hometown the night before at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Following the release of her fifth studio album ‘Then Up’ and subsequent UK tour earlier this year, the highly acclaimed singer-songwriter Lisbee Stainton has announced a run of acoustic shows for November 2017.
Starting at Bristol’s Louisiana venue on 1st November, Stainton will then play The John Peel Centre in Stowmarket (4th), The Live Rooms in Chester (5th), The Slaughtered Lamb in London (6th) and Talking Heads in Southampton (7th).
Stainton will be joined on stage by fellow guitarist Jack Rutter, who first performed with Lisbee when they played together in folk star Seth Lakeman’s band.
Now based in London, Hampshire-born Stainton’s career originally started in 2007 when she became the first unsigned artist to play London’s O2 Arena. Soon after, BBC 6Music’s Tom Robinson discovered Lisbee’s song ‘Red’, and his support subsequently led to Lisbee’s music being playlisted by BBC Radio 2.
In addition to releasing five studio albums (‘Firefly’ (2006), ‘Girl on an Unmade Bed’ (2010), ‘Go’ (2011), ‘Word Games’ (2014) and ‘Then Up’ in Aril 2017), Stainton has also toured with notable artists such as Joan Armatrading, Paul Brady, Gretchen Peters, Paul Carrack and the aforementioned Seth Lakeman – the latter being so moved by Stainton’s live performances that he invited her to join his band in 2012.
Looking ahead to her November tour dates, Stainton said, “I had so much fun touring the new album ‘Then Up’ in May, so I can’t wait to play these dates. Jack Rutter and I work really well together on stage, and the new songs were definitely written to be played live, so it’s a wonderful feeling to have the songs come alive around us. Performing in such intimate venues also allows for us to meet most of the audience, adding a personal dimension to each show. We’ll see you there!”
Lisbee Stainton’s November 2017 tour dates are as follows:
Wed 1st Bristol Louisiana
Sat 4th Stowmarket John Peel Centre
Sun 5th Chester Live Rooms
Mon 6th London Slaughtered Lamb
Tue 7th Southampton Talking Heads
EVANESCENCE are returning with SYNTHESIS, their fourth and most ambitious album to date, set for a November 10th release. The album features a reworking of some of EVANESCENCE’s best-loved songs recorded with a full orchestra and electronica combined with the band and Amy Lee’s virtuoso piano and voice.
EVANESCENCE – lead singer-songwriter and pianist Amy Lee, bassist Tim McCord, drummer Will Hunt, lead guitarist/backing vocalist Troy McLawhorn and guitarist Jen Majura – worked with producers Will Hunt and orchestra arranger and composer David Campbell on SYNTHESIS which will also feature two new EVANESCENCE songs, the first of which, entitled “Imperfection” will be released today. The album includes guest performance by famed violinist Lindsey Stirling on “Hi-Lo” the other new song on the album.
AMY LEE describes the meaning behind “Imperfection,” “For me, this is the most important song on the album. I struggled with the lyrics for a long time because there was a lifetime of work to live up to and I wasn’t sure what to say or how to be good enough. When it finally started pouring out of me, it was undeniable. I had no choice. It’s for all the people we’ve lost, all the people who we could lose, to suicide and depression. I’m singing from the perspective of the person left behind, the person in the waiting room. It’s a plea to fight for your life, to stay. Don’t give into the fear- I have to tell myself that every day. Nobody is perfect. We are all imperfect, and it’s precisely those imperfections that make us who we are, and we have to embrace them because there’s so much beauty in those differences. Life is worth fighting for. You are worth fighting for.”
“This album is a total passion project for me. There are so many layers in our music, underneath the huge drums and guitars,” explains AMY LEE. “I’ve always wanted to shine a light on some of the gorgeous David Campbell arrangements and programming elements in our songs, and that idea snowballed into completely re-doing them with full orchestra, not just strings, elaborate programming and experimentation. This will be our first time touring with orchestra and I’m so excited to perform this way-really focus on the vocals, and the emotion and the story we’ve built over the years. I’m also really excited about the new material on the album. Besides the two new songs, there are some really beautiful instrumental in-between moments. The whole thing flows like a big, dynamic soundtrack.”
Both Standard CD & Digital versions of the album are available now for pre-order, as well as a Deluxe version which include the CD plus a DVD featuring a documentary on making the album as well as instrumental and 5.1 surround mixes of the songs.
In what promises to be the biggest year for EVANESCENCE yet, the group also confirmed that their “Synthesis Live” tour will continue in UK & Europe, starting with two nights at the Royal Festival Hall in March 2018. The band will be bringing a live orchestra and electronic programming out on the road with them, which will truly deliver a transcendent experience.
“Synthesis Live” fan and VIP pre-sales are on-sale beginning September 20th with general on-sale—beginning September 22nd. Fans who preorder the new album by September 19th HERE will receive access to the tour pre-sale, ensuring the best seats in the house. They will also receive songs from the album prior to release date, beginning immediately with the stunning new reworking of the band’s biggest hit, “Bring Me To Life” and new single “Imperfection”.
A variety of VIP ticket packages are available to ensure fans obtain the best seats in the house. Other VIP benefits include the opportunity to meet and enjoy a champagne toast with the band, attend their sound check, and receive exclusive merchandise items. For full tour details go to: www.evanescence.com.
Catch EVANESCENCE on “Synthesis Live” in the following cities:
March 2018
Fri 30th Royal Festival Hall, London
Sat 31st Royal Festival Hall, London
April 2018
Mon 2nd 02 Apollo, Manchester
Tue 3rd Arena, Nottingham
Thurs 5th Armadillo, Glasgow
Fri 6th City Hall, Sheffield
25 Jan 2018 Tewkesbury The Roses Theatre
26 Jan 2018 Southport The Atkinson
27 Jan 2018 Buxton Opera House
28 Jan 2018 Lincoln Drill Hall
30 Jan 2018 Nottingham Playhouse
31 Jan 2018 Peterborough Key Theatre
01 Feb 2018 Coventry The Albany Theatre
02 Feb 2018 Morcambe The Platform
03 Feb 2018 Settle Victoria Hall
04 Feb 2018 Salford The Lowry
06 Feb 2018 Milton Keynes The Stables
07 Feb 2018 Stoke The New Vic Theatre
08 Feb 2018 Durham Gala Theatre
09 Feb 2018 Whitby Pavilion Theatre
10 Feb 2018 LeedsCity Varieties
11 Feb 2018 Banbury Trades and Labour Club
13 Feb 2018 Canterbury The Gulbenkian
14 Feb 2018 Canterbury The Gulbenkian
15 Feb 2018 Worthing Connaught Theatre
16 Feb 2018 Frome Cheese and Grain
17 Feb 2018 London Union Chapel
18 Feb 2018 Winchester Theatre Royal
20 Feb 2018 Farnham The Maltings
21 Feb 2018 Exeter Corn Exchange
22 Feb 2018 Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall Theatre
23 Feb 2018 Bury St Edmunds The Apex
24 Feb 2018 St Albans The Alban Arena
25 Feb 2018 Bromsgrove The Artrix
Prog rock legends Yes will kindly plug Nordoff Robbins charity when they are on their Cruise to the Edge next February. Very honoured to have their support and involvement.
Yes are Steve Howe (guitar), Alan White (drums), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Jon Davison (vocals) and Billy Sherwood (guitar/), plus Steve Howe’s son Dylan was recently announced as joining the band on their current tour. He will drum alongside Alan White.
They are currently touring the US with Todd Rundgren and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy –
Aug 04 – White Oak Amphitheatre at Greensboro Coliseum Complex, NC
Aug 05 – Holmes Convocation Center, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
Aug 07 – Pier Six Concert Pavilion, Baltimore, MD
Aug 08 – Tower Theatre, Upper Darby, PA
Aug 10 – The Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, CT
Aug 11 – Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, Brooklyn, NY
Aug 12 – P.N.C. Bank Center, Holmdel, NJ
Aug 14 – Hershey Theatre, Hershey, PA
Aug 16 – The Palace Theatre, Greensburg, PA
Aug 17 – DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkston, MI
Aug 19 – Festival Park – Grand Victoria Casino, Elgin, IL
Aug 20 – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, Cleveland, OH – A benefit for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Aug 22 – The Zoo Amphitheatre, Oklahoma City, OK
Aug 23 – Smart Financial Centre, Sugar Land, TX
Aug 25 – Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, AZ
Aug 26 – The Joint @ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV
Aug 28 – Balboa Theatre, San Diego, CA – only Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy supporting
Aug 29 – Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, CA
Aug 31 – Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV – YES only – no support
Sep 01 – Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, CA – YES only – no support
Sep 03 – Tulalip Amphitheatre, Tulalip, WA
Sep 05 – Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, BC – only Todd Rundgren supporting
Sep 07 – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Edmonton, AB – only Todd Rundgren supporting
Sep 08 – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary, AB – only Todd Rundgren supporting
Sep 11 – Bluestem Center For The Arts Amphitheatre, Moorhead, MN – only Todd Rundgren supporting
Sep 12 – McGrath Amphitheatre, Cedar Rapids, IA – only Todd Rundgren supporting
Sep 14 – Budweiser Gardens, London, ON – only Todd Rundgren supporting
Sep 15 – Roc Dome Arena, Rochester, NY – only Todd Rundgren supporting
Sep 17 – The Wilbur Theatre, Boston, MA – YES only – no support
Sep 18 – The Paramount, Huntington, NY – YES only – no support
Sep 19 – The Paramount, Huntington, NY – YES only – no support
Ginger Solo
Sat 24th June, Worcester Marrs Bar
Sat 15th July, Sheffield Leadmill, supporting The Levellers
Sat 19th August, London Union Chapel – Songs & Words
Mutation
To celebrate the release of Dark Black, the new album from Mutation, Ginger will be joined by Scott Lee Andrews (Exit_International) and Denzil (Ginger Wildheart Band, Young Legionnaire) to take the Mutation show out on it’s debut tour of the UK, in the following towns:
Fri 27th October, Leeds Brudenell Social Club (Tickets)
Sun 29th October, Manchester Deaf Institute (Tickets)
Mon 30th October, Glasgow Stereo (Tickets)
Tue 31st October, Newcastle Riverside (Tickets)
Wed 01st November, London Underworld (Tickets)
Thu 02nd November, Cardiff The Globe (Tickets)
Fri 03rd November, Brighton Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar (Tickets)
Mon 13th November, Osaka Fanj Twice
Tue 14th November, Nagoya Tight Rope
Wed 15th November, Tokyo O-Nest
Thu 16th November, Tokyo O-Nest
Hallowe’en Hootenanny
Sat 28th October, Wolverhampton Slade Rooms
Two great bands touring later this year and Cats In Space release their second album ‘Scarecrow’ in August 🙂
BAD TOUCH + MOLLIE MARRIOTT
9/11 Plug, Sheffield
10/11 Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek
16/11 The Tunnels Bristol
17/11 The Ruby Lounge, Manchester
18/11 The Cluny, Newcastle
19/11 The Bodega, Nottingham
23/11 Stereo Glasgow
24/11 Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
25/11 The Empire Coventry
26/11 O2 Academy Islington London
1/12 The Waterfront Norwich
2/12 The Talking Heads, Southampton
CATS IN SPACE
September
Weds 06 The Borderline, London
Tues 12 The Globe, Cardiff
Weds 13 The Borderline, London
Fri 15 Rock City Basement, Nottingham
Sat 16 O2 Academy 2, Birmingham
Sun 17 The Fleece, Bristol
Tues 19 The Haunt, Brighton
Mon 25 G2, Glasgow
Tues 26 O2 Academy 3, Manchester
Weds 27 The Borderline, London
3/12 Planet Rockstock 2017
