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**Rescheduled date to be confirmed**

Hosted by Noel Brodie and featuring four comedy sets by top British Comedians.

Following a twice extended sold-out UK tour of his stand-up show Blizzard, winner of the latest series of Taskmaster (UKTV/Channel 4), star of Mock the Week (BBC Two) and co-host of chart- topping Off Menu podcast Ed Gamble, is set to tour Europe for the first time across 11 dates from 4 March 2020.

As well as being a co-host on Radio X’s Sunday morning show and releasing his first comedy special within Amazon Prime Video in 2020, Ed’s TV stand-up appearances include Live at the Apollo (BBC Two), The Royal Variety Performance (ITV1), The Russell Howard Hour (Sky One), Live at the Comedy Store (Comedy Central) and Conan (TBS). His numerous guest appearances include Hypothetical (Dave), The Apprentice: You’re Fired (BBC Two), I’ll Get This (BBC Two), Richard Osman’s House of Games (BBC Two), Jon Richardson’s Ultimate Warrior (Dave), Insert Name Here (BBC Two) and Roast Battle UK (Comedy Central).

Ed first came to prominence playing Georgie Carlton in two series of Almost Royal (BBC America/E4/Netflix) and co-wrote the fourth series of Greg Davies’ sitcom Man Down (Channel 4), as well as appearing in two episodes.

Don’t miss a full bill of comedy featuring some of the UK’s best talent.

**Rescheduled date to be confirmed**

The greatest musical era of the 20th century comes alive with a nostalgic and fun packed musical journey through the sights and sounds of the swinging 60s.

When skirts got shorter and hair got longer!

Sing and dance along with a cast of leading performers to the music of The Beatles, Hermans Hermits., Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Rolling Stones, Cilla Black, Manfred Mann, Dusty Springfield, Lulu, Sandy Shaw and many more...

This show will leave you on your feet and dancing in the aisles!

**Rescheduled date to be confirmed**


GALA DINNER

One of the UK’s most popular entertainers.
As co creator of Comic Relief, host of many television and stage shows, he truly is a national treasure.

Lenny Henry is one of Britain’s best-known andcelebrated comedians, with a career which began withcult stardom on children’s television to becoming awriter, radio DJ, TV presenter, co-founder of ComicRelief and award-winning actor.

Lenny will take the audience through a jam packed session offunny memories and stories – from growing up in theBlack Country, puberty, school, friendship, family secretsand unashamed racism. With his mother’s mantra of‘H’integration’ echoing in his ears, Lenny will recountsetting out on his rollercoaster ride of a career – but atevery stage wondering: Am I good enough? Is this whatthey want?

Lenny will be interviewed live on stage, about furtherinsights into his life and career, followed by questionsfrom the audience.

Come and enjoy these honest and tender stories, toldwith a glorious sense of humour.

Dress Code: BLACK TIE 

Odyssey direct from the USA with live band. Hits include, If you're looking for a way out, Going back to my roots, Inside out, Native new Yorker.

**Rescheduled date to be confirmed**

DIRECT FROM THE WEST END
FEATURING SONGS BY ELTON JOHN AND BERNIE TAUPIN

ELTON JOHN: It’s A Little Bit Funny tells the incredible story of Elton John’s rise and fall (and rise again) as one of the most successful singer/songwriters ever.

It also tells the tale of one extraordinary night in Las Vegas when Martin Kaye bumps into the bespectacled star and happens to spend the evening with him.

It’s a night of confessions, anecdotes, jokes and – of course – fabulous songs. Martin Kaye (star of Million Dollar Quartet) is the biggest Elton John fan ever – so who better to sing and play Elton’s greatest songs and narrate this tall tale of an unforgettable celebrity encounter. For group bookings or parties of 10 or more, please contact the venue direct on 0161 926 8992.

Legends of Irish music & song The FUREYS, renowned for their hit songs ‘I will love you’, ‘When you were sweet 16’, ‘The Green fields of France’, ‘The old man’, ‘Red rose café’, ‘From Clare to here’, ‘Her father didn’t like me anyway’, ‘Leaving Nancy’, ‘Steal away’ etc return on Sunday 26th April 2020.

The FUREYS have been entertaining audiences worldwide for 42 years, audiences that have included former Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Former Irish President Mary McAleese and the late Pope John Paul while Tony Blair has publicly stated his favourite peace song of all time is the FUREYS “Green Fields of France” and President Michael D Higgins attended their last concert in National Concert Hall.

The oldest of the brothers, Eddie Furey left home in 1966 and travelled to Scotland at the time of the great folk revival where he shared accommodation with then unknown folk singers Billy Connolly, Gerry Rafferty and Alex Campbell. In 1969 with his brother Finbar, he was the special guest for the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem throughout the USA and Canada. In 1971 he moved to mainland Europe where he toured for seven years. Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics has credited Eddie with teaching him his first chords on guitar when they met up in the North East of England while Dave was still a teenager.

“Alive-Alive Oh!”

Following the sudden death of founding member Barney McKenna in 2012 and John Sheahans’ decision to retire it was agreed that The Dubliners, as a touring band, would come to an end and THE DUBLIN LEGENDS were born.

THE DUBLIN LEGENDS, Sean Cannon, Paul Watchorn, Gerry O’Connor & Shay Kavanagh, have over 100 years of performing experience between them and Sean was the lead singer with The Dubliners for over 30 of them! They will, of course, continue to play all the classic songs and ballads known the world over; Whiskey in The Jar, Dirty Old Town, The Wild Rover, Seven Drunken Nights, The Rare Auld Times, Molly Malone, The Irish Rover, Black Velvet Band & many more.

In 2017 guitarist and founder, Eamonn Campbell, passed away while they were on tour in Holland. Even though he had been in poor health it was still a massive shock. The lads asked an old friend, Shay Kavanagh, if he would like to come on the road with them and, thankfully, Shay readily agreed. Shay is a stalwart of the Irish Folk Music scene. He was a founding member of General Humbert with the great Mary Black and has played with The Dublin City Ramblers for many years.

It was Eamonn’s wish that the band continue touring and finish off recording the album they had been working on. This is a follow-up to “The Dublin Sessions” which featured 16 newly recorded tracks and included some old favourites & classics that the lads wanted to get down on disc…The Leaving of Liverpool, Schooldays Over, Pub with No Beer, Rambling Rover, Hand Me Down My Bible and some scorching tunes from Gerry O’Connor: Billy in The Low Ground / The Temperance Reel

In the past seven years the band have continued the legacy of The Dubliners by travelling far and wide playing concerts to a whole new generation of Irish music fans. They have wowed audiences in Iceland, Norway, Finland, The Faroe Islands, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Switzerland and all over England, Scotland & Wales.
This band are the REAL DEAL so make sure you join THE DUBLIN LEGENDS on their 2019 UK Tour for a night full of songs and stories and the odd pint of Guinness!

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Please be aware that the Quays Theatre is at the far side of The Lowry’s building. After entering the main doors to the foyer, you should allow time to walk to the Quays Theatre before the show begins, especially if you have mobility difficulties. There are no stairs to negotiate, but there is a long sloping ramp, and wheelchairs are available to borrow if needed.
You can familiarise yourself with the building in advance using our virtual tour  https://thelowry.com/visit-us/access/

The Stars From The Commitments have toured extensively across Canada, USA, South America, Europe, Scandinavia, Africa, Asia and Australia. They have entertained and enthralled audiences at festivals, clubs, theatres, high profile corporate events and VIP parties, including a US President!

Featuring original Commitments cast members & musicians from the Smash Hit Sir Alan Parker film and multimillion selling sound track: Kenneth McCluskey AKA Bass Player Derek “The Meatman Scully”, Robert Arkins AKA Jimmy Rabbitte, Michael Aherne AKA Piano Player Steven “The Soul Surgeon” Clifford, & Ronan Dooney, Trumpet – Commitments Sound track albums. Plus, Antoinette Dunleavy, Sandra Hyland - Vocals. Andreas Nolan - Bass Guitar. Serge Stavila - Saxophone & Paul Maher- Drums.

The Stars From The Commitments -Dublin’s Saviours of Soul Performing to hundreds of thousands of people world-wide and receiving rave reviews from fans, music critics and promoters.

The show consists of two hours of sizzling soul music and is thrilling live experience that will stir your soul. This dynamic band drives audiences to dance in the aisles and scream for more as they perform all the hits from the multi-million selling soundtrack albums and the Oscar Nominated, Golden Globe & BAFTA award winning film. Songs include Mustang Sally, In the Midnight Hour, Try A Little Tenderness, Treat Her Right, I Cant Stand The Rain, Nowhere to Run and many more.

For almost 30 years, Tommy Fleming has been honing his craft and entertaining the masses with his extraordinary talent. His worldwide success has made him a household name in many homes across the globe and his fanbase is growing year on year. It’s not hard to see why; music is a universal language and one Tommy is undoubtedly fluent in.

The one comment that is repeated from Dublin to Darwin and beyond, is the incredible effect Tommy’s voice has as he turns each song into his own with his unique and powerful style - touching emotions in you that only music can reach. While Tommy’s music may be difficult to classify, fans use such words as “deeply emotional, romantic and sincere” to describe the feelings it evokes. One reviewer described his music as falling into a genre of Symphonic Pop that still awaits a name. A Tommy Fleming concert is a musical experience not to be missed that has a universal appeal to all ages and backgrounds.

Tommy is famous for his own arrangement of “Danny Boy”, “Isle of Inisfree” and “Hard Times” - all songs that you know and love but have never heard until you hear Tommy Fleming’s versions. He also covers songs from “You Raise Me Up”, “Bridge over Troubled Waters”, “From a Distance” and “Something Inside so Strong” along with many more contemporary numbers.

uch is his success, he has also toured with the great Elaine Paige and Kenny Rogers in recent years and recorded duets with Vince Gill, Christy Hennessy, Phil Coulter, Lucie Silvas, Cara Dillon, Eleanor Shanley, De Dannan and Mark Vincent to name but a few.

Tommy brings his Voice of Hope II tour to the UK in the Spring of 2020.

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Please be aware that the Quays Theatre is at the far side of The Lowry’s building. After entering the main doors to the foyer, you should allow time to walk to the Quays Theatre before the show begins, especially if you have mobility difficulties. There are no stairs to negotiate, but there is a long sloping ramp, and wheelchairs are available to borrow if needed.
You can familiarise yourself with the building in advance using our virtual tour  https://thelowry.com/visit-us/access/

Those good ol’ boys in ELVANA ‘Elvis fronted Nirvana’ are delighted to announce that they will be touring their first ever fully ‘Unplugged’ show in 2020. Emulating the iconic Nirvana Unplugged concert, Elvana will be performing many of the tracks of this show including ‘Jesus Don’t Want Me for a Sunbeam, ‘Lake of Fire’ and ‘Where did you sleep last night?’ All shook up with a splash of Elvis Presley and tongues shoved firmly into cheeks. This is an evening with Elvana as you’ve never seen them before. Very Limited number of seats available so make sure to book early and avoid disappointment.

Paul delivers the Classic Rod hits with style from Maggie May & Baby Jane to You wear it well and First cut is the deepest and many more…
A Tribute to Mr Gravel Voice himself, Paul incorporates everything you would expect to see and hear at a genuine Rod concert,
Featuring all the hits from an incredible career spanning 5 decades, Paul performs with an amazing passion and energy and gives you the feeling you’re watching the man himself featuring  Laura on backing vocals.
This Tribute will ensure that you have Rodtastic evening where you can dance and sing along to all Rods greatest hits.
 
Rod Stewart Tribute Performed by Paul Farrow featuring Laura on Backing Vocals

This highly acclaimed production continues to captivate audiences across the UK with its spectacular celebration of the classic songbook that made The Carpenters a legend in the world of popular music, selling over 100 million albums and singles.

This brand new show for 2020 once again features the outstanding vocal talents of Claire Furley, with Musical Director Phil Aldridge leading The Carpenters Story Orchestra as they re-create Richard Carpenter’s original orchestral arrangements.

Featuring all of the Carpenters hit songs including (They Long To Be) Close To You, Yesterday Once More, We’ve Only Just Begun, Superstar, A Song For You, Rainy Days & Mondays, Goodbye to Love and many more!

**Rescheduled date to be confirmed**

A NIGHT OF MUSIC FEATURING HITS FROM:

Evita
Lion King
Jesus Christ Superstar
Les Miserable
Phantom of the Opera

Featuring the Magic Voices Choir.

His first success was as the lead singer of the band 'Peter and the Wolves'. Peter later toured the country as a singer and then went to London as a busker before he got his first role in a show. He has stared in most major musicals (Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera), often as the main roles. He is best known for the role as the Phantom in Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical 'The Phantom of the Opera'. He was twice voted the favourite Phantom of members of the international Phantom Appreciation Society. The Vancouver Sun described his performance in the role as "definitive". He has appeared in concerts around the world, on television and on the radio. His own Beyond the Mask concert tour has been an international success, receiving excellent reviews. He has hosted his own radio and TV show in Wales. He created the title role in Bernard J. Taylor's dark musical 'Nosferatu'. The role was specifically written for Karrie, with his vocal range in mind. Karrie's TV show in Wales is called 'Young at Heart' and he has previously presented his own show 'Karrie on Karrie'. He appeared on Welsh TV's 'Children in Need' and at the 'Music Under the Stars' concert at the Faenol Festival in 2001

VOTED THE BEST PHANTOM OF ALL TIME
I.P.A.S

"THE DEFINITIVE PHANTOM"
Vancouver Sun

For bookings of 10 or more please contact the venue directly.

From the writers of the hit comedy Hormonal Housewives, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun is the brand-new musical comedy show that does exactly what it says on the tin.

Join the Legendary Linda Nolan, X Factor Finalist Niki Evans, CBBC Creeped Out’s Stephanie Dooley and Olivier Award Winner Leanne Jones in GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN! A riotous night out of hilarious sketches and classic pop tunes that celebrate all that it means to be a 21st Century Woman!

Join the star cast of four refreshingly honest and unreserved girls on a riotous evening of laugh-out-loud sketches and classic pop anthems that define being a 21st Century woman. We take a no-holds-barred comedy romp through everything life throws at a modern day woman, dating, relationships, breakups, fashion, dieting, chocolate, more dieting, sex, going out, staying in, wine, more wine and of course, men. All are thrown under the microscope of uproarious dissection – no subject is too taboo!

Get involved and come along to channel your inner dive because Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Age Guidance: Suitable For Ages 16+

From Nutbush to Wembley Stadium with The Queen of Rock’n’Roll
 
Come shake a tail feather with the UK’s official No1 Tina. . . Justine Riddoch and her talented cast.
When Tina Turner burst onto the scene, she won the hearts of music fans from the outset, creating a fearsome reputation for her live performances – and those never-ending legs!
Early hits River Deep – Mountain High, Proud Mary and Nutbush City Limits were just a taste of what was to come. We Don’t Need Another Hero, Simply the Best, What’s Love Got To Do With It, I Don’t Wanna Lose You and When the Heartache is Over propelled her to stadium concert stardom.

Supported by her super-talented band and dazzling dancing girls in sequins, feathers and diamonds, Justine is the SUPREME Tina (National Tribute Awards). She’s got the looks, she’s got the moves, but most of all, she’s got THE voice. Join an army of loyal fans for a truly authentic, fun-packed musical spectacular!

www.totallytina.co.uk

Gwen Dickey relocated to the UK twenty years ago to enjoy a successful solo career playing to packed houses all over the UK, but now, with the newly reformed ROSE ROYCE, she and her legendary band are available once again for engagements in the USA and beyond
.
Judging by the reaction in the UK, we feel that no-one will want to miss their chance to experience ROSE ROYCE as they were always meant to be… with the ORIGINAL VOCALIST : the  unique, unequalled, and sounding better-than-ever…

Miss GWEN DICKEY!

THE VINTAGE BOYS Rock ‘n’ Roll Show
Bringing the 50s and 60s into the 21st Century

Step back in time to the Golden Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll as the sounds of the 50s & 60s are authentically recreated by The Vintage Boys.

With immaculate 3-part harmony, slick choreography, sharp suits and the backing of an incredible live band, the boys perfectly capture the look and sound of the golden era and will have you singing along and dancing in the aisles with their high-energy performance.

Featuring over 40 hits from stars of the 50s and 60s including Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, Del Shannon, Bill Haley, Dion, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and many more!

The show also features a little taste of what today’s music would sound like in the 50s & 60s as the boys put their unique ‘Vintage’ twist on a couple of modern day pop hits.

Between them the boys have performed in theatres and concert halls worldwide, including Her Majesty’s Theatre and The Royal Albert Hall as well as performing roles in Jersey Boys and We Will Rock You. Their impressive vocal ability is matched by their energetic showmanship and infectious sense of fun.

ELO AGAIN are back with their stunning 'Re-Discovery Tour’ celebrating the truly universal music of Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra.

Now in their 8th year ELO AGAIN really give you a dramatic taste of what a legendary ELO concert would have been like back in their heyday, the whole experience is professionally re-enacted with a great sound reproduction, light show and visual effects. They perform all the big hits –MR BLUE SKY, LIVIN’ THING, SWEET TALKIN’ WOMAN, SHINE A LITTLE LOVE, CONFUSION,LAST TRAIN TO LONDON, ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN, WILD WEST HERO, DON'T BRING ME DOWN, THE DIARY OF HORACE WIMP, TELEPHONE LINE, TURN TO STONE plus many more.

As the UK’s No.1 tribute show, ELO AGAIN provide you with the spectacular live effect of ELO’s famous orchestrations, soaring strings and vocals. They certainly know how to entertain too, as the hits just keep on coming. Their version of MR BLUE SKY is breathtaking, full of passion and fervour; the whole auditorium will be on its feet.

Come along and relive the age of Glam Rock as ELO AGAIN pay tribute to the beautifully crafted songs of Jeff Lynne. You will revel in ELO’s unique symphonic rock style and hear some of the most unforgettable classic rock and pop songs of our generation. The timeless MR BLUE SKY returns, so Roll Over Beethoven -Rock 'n Roll Is King

The Opera Boys return with a brand new show for 2020, featuring the biggest songs from the West End and Broadway. Immaculate 4-part harmony musical medleys are combined with stunning solo performances from shows that the boys themselves have performed in over the years.

From timeless classics like Les Miserables, Phantom of The Opera and West Side Story, to modern smash hits such as Jersey Boys, We Will Rock You and The Greatest Showman, this is the perfect show for musical theatre lovers both young and old.

The show also features a selection of beautiful operatic arias that the boys have become known for over the last few years, from La Donna e Mobile to Nessun Dorma.

With beautiful vocal arrangements, spectacular close part harmony and a great line in humour, The Opera Boys have been delighting audiences all over the world with their unique show combining beautiful, powerful and emotional music with funny, engaging and light-hearted entertainment.

The boys trained at some of the UK’s finest schools including The Royal Academy of Music, and have each become highly successful performers in their own right. Between them they have performed lead roles on London’s West End and on Broadway in New York. They have performed as backing vocalists to some of the world’s biggest superstars including Russell Watson, Robbie Williams, Tom Jones and Elton John, and in 2015 one of the boys appeared as part of the Belgian entry for The Eurovision Song Contest, performing to a global audience of 200 million, and placing a very respectable 4th in the competition!

Together the boys have performed in theatres and concert halls throughout the UK and have travelled all over the world performing their show. In 2018 they performed as soloists with The National Symphony Orchestra.

They have been invited to perform at a number of prestigious events including the 10th Anniversary of the world’s most famous cruise ship, Cunard’s superliner Queen Mary 2, and the inaugural voyage of P&O’s largest cruise ship Britannia, launched by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Cara Dillon, the multi-award winning Northern Irish singer, returns this Autumn to perform some of her favourite and most popular songs along with her band.

Cara has been celebrated as one of the finest exponents of traditional Irish song anywhere in the world and continues to honour her rich cultural heritage. Spanning a career of over 25 years, Cara continues to maintain an enviable position at the very top of her genre, and her voice has been lauded by the good and great since her very beginnings. She will be joined by a band featuring Sam Lakeman (Piano, Guitar), Ed Boyd (Guitar), Conal McDonagh (Uilleann Pipes) and Toby Shaer (Fiddle, Whistles).
 
www.caradillon.co.uk

Johnny’s big break came in late 1966 when he recorded a song called Mursheen Durkin, an old ballad from the west of Ireland. It topped the charts at Number 1 for three consecutive weeks. It was followed up by The Boston Burglar which also reached Number 1.

His first tour of the United States was in 67. It involved 7 weeks of concerts during that hot summer of Hippies, Protests and Vietnam. One of the many famous venues he played was the “Hungry Eye” in San Francisco. However, his favourite was the famous “Carnegie Hall” in New York. It was at this stage in his career he had his third Number 1 hit with the song Nora from Sean O’Casey’s famous play “The Plough and the Stars”

On a golden August afternoon while sitting on a stone in the sun outside a pub in Co. Sligo came the inspiration to write his first song Long, long before your time. It too reached Number 1.

Many of his songs have become standards and been recorded by many other singers.

 

 

 

The Award winning ‘Pop up Bowie’ a stunning tribute to
DAVID BOWIE

With performances of all the great hits from every era of David Bowies career from the 70’s to the 90’s and beyond including Space Oddity, Life on Mars, Changes, Heroes, Under Pressure, Let’s Dance, Starman, Ziggy Stardust, Rebel Rebel and Ashes to Ashes.
With a full band Paul Anthony will perform 2 hours of Bowie’s biggest hits taking the audience on a musical journey, experiencing the masterpieces that made the late, great David Bowie the immortal legend he is today. ‘Pop-Up Bowie’ aims to inspire, uplift and celebrate the life of a true artistic genius. Experience the magic of Bowie’s music live with thrilling artistry, a theatrical performance that honours the revolutionary icon himself in the most respectful of ways. Paul Anthony was voted the UK’s No.1 David Bowie Tribute Act at the National Tribute Awards 2016

The World Famous Elvis Show starring CHRIS CONNOR !
With his 12 piece band and orchestra.
Endorsed by the Telegraph as THE Best Elvis Tribute Show in the WORLD !
Selling out in theatres in the UK and overseas! Be quick before tickets sell out!

Alan McGee is a Scottish businessman and music industry executive. He has been a record label owner, musician, manager, and music blogger for The Guardian. He is best known for co-founding and running the independent Creation Records label and is the man who discovered and signed Oasis.

The Upbeat Beatles are second to none - powerhouse vocals, precision harmonies and tight musicianship.
The guys have an easy, happy rapport with any crowd, giving them a reputation to be envied as the best in the business.
There isn’t a band to touch them - 8 bars of “Twist and Shout” and you will know why! No other band can perform this song like the Upbeat Beatles!
The show takes you through the Fab Four’s long and winding road from the early Cavern days through Beatlemania, America, Sergeant Pepper to Abbey Road, with narrative and full multi-media presentation.

If you love the Beatles you’ll love this show, and if you don’t love the Beatles you’ll love this show!

 90s icons Toploader are back with brand new material including a full length album and new singles.

 Made up of Joseph Washbourn, Matt Knight, Rob Green and Dan Hipgrave, Toploader is one of the biggest band of its generation.
Since exploding onto the scene shortly after forming in 1997, the multi-time Brit nominated band have_ over two million album sales to their name and a string of top 20 hits both home and abroad. Right from debut hit single ‘Onka’s Big Moka’ to tracks like ‘Dancing In the Moonlight’, the band have always made it big. As one of the highest selling outfits of their era, they still boast a massive fanbase more than ten years later, and as such news of their new material couldn’t come soon enough.
The band might have taken a break between 2003 and 2011 but their star is still very much burning brightly. They returned with a well received album ‘Only Human’ and more singles came in the ensuing years including ‘Turn It Around’, which picked up plenty of support from BBC Radio 2. Wholly accustomed to playing in from of massive audiences and mixing up musical influences with ease, this band is as skilled in the live arena as they are in the studio when crafting massive singalong hits.
Toploader never fail to please the crowd and have backed the likes of Robbie Williams and Tom Jones everywhere from Wembley Stadium to Glastonbury.

Featuring Support from former frontman of the Seahorses; Chris Helme.

Tickets for The Houghton Weavers at The Stockport Plaza

With hits like ‘Digging Your Scene’ and ‘It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way’, The Blow Monkeys epitomised the glamour of mid-80s pop at its most graceful and sophisticated. In the band’s frontman Robert Howard (aka Dr. Robert), they possessed a tall, charismatic singer who was both camera-friendly and clever, who appeared to be just as much at ease on the catwalk that is pop’s conveyer belt as he was penning witty, incisive songs. While quite clearly Robert’s band, though, the Blow Monkeys were also gifted three immensely talented musicians in bassist Mick Anker (he of the trademark bowler hat), saxophonist Neville Henry and drummer Tony Kiley.

Behind the band’s stylish veneer lay something else, which became increasingly apparent from Robert’s lyrics. While some of the Smash Hits generation avoided politics with a capital P, The Blow Monkeys openly criticised the policies of the Conservative government, railing against social injustices and adopting an openly left-of-centre stance on issues of the day.

From openly endorsing the gay community “Digging Your Scene” to an outright attack on Margaret Thatcher ‘Celebrate (The Day After You)’ – a duet with the late, great Curtis Mayfield, The Blow Monkeys were always the thinking person’s pop group.

As the 1980s progressed, so too did the band’s musical style, from a sound once dubbed “jazz punk” by Robert to a more soulful, jazzy style and an ever-increasing adoption of dance music. The Blow Monkeys of their rare, indie debut single ‘Live Today Love Tomorrow’ (recorded on a shoestring in 1981) would be barely recognisable to those who bought the Balearic remix of ‘La Passionara’ from 1990. And yet a soulful, spiritually uplifting strain has continued to run through their music – and, indeed, that of Robert’s solo recordings – to this day.

Fresh from the highly acclaimed, sell-out Woman To Woman UK tour with fellow artistes Julia Fordham and Judie Tzuke, Beverley Craven makes a welcomed return to the stage.
 
Performing with a string quartet ensemble this intimate show will feature songs and stories spanning her 30-year career as a singer/songwriter and performer.
 
The Brit Award winner first shot to fame in 1991 when her debut album, featuring three of her top 20 hits, reached number 3 in the UK charts. A humorous and highly entertaining evening is in store as Beverley bares her soul and music onstage with classic songs such as Holding On, Loves Scenes, Memories and Promise Me. Her witty narrative, unforgettable melodies and poignant sentiments will leave you with a warm glow of nostalgia, or maybe even the odd tear… 


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Please be aware that the Quays Theatre is at the far side of The Lowry’s building. After entering the main doors to the foyer, you should allow time to walk to the Quays Theatre before the show begins, especially if you have mobility difficulties. There are no stairs to negotiate, but there is a long sloping ramp, and wheelchairs are available to borrow if needed.
You can familiarise yourself with the building in advance using our virtual tour  https://thelowry.com/visit-us/access/