Category: Concert
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Orchestral ABBA comes to Portsmouth
A welcome diversion from the norm for me – I had the pleasure of working not only with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, but a fabulous rhythm section, 4 world class singers and a super conductor, Pete Harrison. The open air event took place at the Guildhall in Portsmouth on the 2nd August – no rain […]
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80s Symphonic comes to ‘Beatles’ City
I had the pleasure of working with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra last December at the infamous concert Hall on a Symphonic 80s gig. It was a fun packed evening of classic hits from the decade performed by 4 amazing singers (Emma Kershaw, Katie Birtill, Oliver Tompsett, and Patrick Smyth) with maestro Rob Eckland, conductor […]
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A Return To ‘Gigging’ Life
I’m glad to say some normality has finally returned to gigging life, albeit slowly and cautiously. The Dire Straits Experience have at last been busy. March included a two week tour of France with no less than 11 shows, all with fantastic audiences, food and hospitality. After a brief 3 day respite back home we […]
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’Tis The Season….
To be playing Christmas tunes in Dubai. For the 3rd year running, the concert promoter Raymond Gubbay has put on six ‘Jingle Bells’ concerts in the space of three days for an enthusiastic audience. It’s immense fun, if not a bit strange seeing Christmas woolly sweaters being worn outside in temperatures of 25 degrees. […]
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Now That’s What I Call The 80s
A slight departure from the norm for me. Whilst not being available to play on this new show from the Raymond Gubbay team, I did however get involved with programming all the specialised sounds for the three keyboard players on the show. Nearly 150 patches prepared especially for the excellent arranging of my friend, Clive […]
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To Africa And Beyond With The DSE
It has been a very busy time with the Dire Straits Experience having just returned from a 3 show tour in Finland. With less than a day to rest in the UK we then left for South Africa having 2 shows planned in Mozambique, one in Pretoria outside of Johannesburg and then on to the […]
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DSE – Summer Travels In Europe
The Dire Straits Experience continues with their very busy schedule this Summer. Since the end of June we’ve been to Avoine and Istres in France. Last weekend we had gig in Croatia returning the next day to Heathrow and getting straight onto a sleeper touring bus that took us overnight to the Rewind Festival in […]
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Nashville Comes To Liverpool
On the 13th July I had a very enjoyable diversion from the usual kind of gigs I do. I was working alongside the Liverpool Philharmonic in a ‘Nashville Classics’ concert with full orchestra and rhythm section. The show was the brainchild of pianist/arranger/conductor Kennedy Aitchison and Annie Skates, singer and vocal arranger. Also featuring on vocals, […]
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National Tour – Ministry Of Sound
And we’re off again. Birmingham, Cardiff, Nottingham, Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool coming up over the next month. After the first gig at the Festival Hall in January, this Classical celebration of some of the best selling dance music of all time continues with a national tour. It’s performed by the 50 strong London Concert Orchestra […]
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Back To The Netherlands
Other than a one-off gig in Lunen in Germany, the Dire Straits Experience will be touring the Netherlands with 7 gigs from the 15th through to the 24th May. Peter Boone, Dutch promoter and personal fan of the band has supported their tours now for a good few years and continues to fill out concert […]