September will bring many treats for music lovers in Chelmsford, as the Civic Theatre holds its ‘Music Month’ celebration of live music.
Starting the month is ‘Are You Experienced?’ the world’s number one Jimi Hendrix Experience tribute on Friday 8. The three-piece group led by John Campbell, formed in 1996 and they have successfully recreated the dizzy heights of Jimi’s late 1960s incendiary performances. The guitar playing is note perfect as hits such as ‘All Along The Watchtower’, ‘Foxy Lady’, ‘Hey Joe’ and ‘Purple Haze’ are belted out, whilst the authentic costumes, upside down Strat and wild stage antics truly channel the voodoo spirit of Hendrix. Anyone who saw Jimi at the Chelmsford Corn Exchange in 1967 needs to witness this tribute to him. Tickets are £19.50, concessions are £17.
On Saturday 9, The BBC Big Band will be performing their Ella Fitzgerald 2017 Centenary Concert. The concert will be a special celebration of the ‘First Lady of Song’ and will be conducted by Barry Forgie and features internationally acclaimed vocalist, Elaine Delmar. Elaine has an annual engagement at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho and can count Humphrey Littleton and Michael Parkinson as fans. The concert will feature some of Ella’s classic songs along with stylish re-workings of her lesser-known gems and features music from many of the bands that Ella worked with, from Chuck Webb through to Count Basie. Tickets are priced at £26.
‘Back to Bacharach’ celebrates the musical genius of Burt Bacharach, who together with songwriting partner, Hal David, created some of the most memorable and iconic hits from the 20th Century. This tribute to Bacharach is performed by three of the finest West-End singers who have also performed on tours of Strictly Come Dancing, Jesus Christ Superstar and Miss Saigon, together a live 10-piece band. Songs featured in this affectionate Bacharach tribute include; ‘Alfie’, ‘Anyone Who Had a Heart’ and ‘Close To You’. ‘Back To Bacharach’ takes place on Thursday 14 and tickets are £22/20 concessions.
The Karen Carpenter tribute ‘Voice of The Heart’ is on Friday 15 and features Carole Gordon, as the golden voiced Karen Carpenter. It has been 30 years since the tragic passing of Karen, but the flame has been kept alive by Carole and the six-piece band, The Blue Jeans Band. The show is a two-hour journey through The Carpenters’ songbook and includes; ‘Yesterday Once More’, ‘Close To You’ and ‘Top of The World’. The evening promises to be an emotional and sparkling night to remember. Tickets are £20/18.50 concessions.
‘Halfway to Paradise, The Billy Fury Story’ hits the Civic’s stage on Sunday 17. The two-hour, 29 song show tells the story of this legendary British rock’n’ roller, who had the same number of UK hits as The Beatles in the 1960s. The show features Colin Gold as Billy, a giant screen showing footage of Fury live and even his original backing band, The Tornados live on stage. The show will feature all of Billy’s hits including; ‘Last Night Was Made For Love’, ‘Jealousy’ and ‘Wondrous Place’. Tickets are £23/21 concessions.
2016 saw the loss of two giants of British music, George Michael and David Bowie. ‘Fast Love: A Tribute to George Michael’ comes to the Civic on Thursday 21 and will be a very special evening celebrating George’s pop classics in Wham! along with his fine-crafted solo material. ‘Fast Love’ is a spellbinding experience with a tight live band and a singer who is authentically George, the evening will be unforgettable. Tickets for this incredible concert are £24/22 concessions. David Bowie was possibly one of the most influential artists of all time and ‘Ultimate Bowie’ celebrates the Thin White Duke’s legacy. From his early hits to his era defining songs, Ed Blaney truly inhabits and breathes the chameleon charm of Bowie, backed by an eight-piece live band. Expect to hear all of the monster hits from ‘Ziggy’, ‘Let’s Dance’, ‘Changes’ to classic album tracks such as ‘Five Years’. Tickets for this visually stunning and vocally impressive night are £19.50/£18 concessions. All of the live music nights start at 7.45pm.
The Lunchtime Concerts continue every Wednesday in the Cramphorn Studio at 1pm and offer a toe-tapping relaxing interlude to the day. A donation of £1 is suggested.
To book tickets to see any of these events, visit www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres or call the Box Office on 01245 606505.
