Extra dates added across the UK for Céline Dion Live 2017

Due to phenomenal demand, Céline Dion has this morning added four extra shows to her Live 2017 UK and European Tour. The new dates are Saturday 29 & Sunday 30 July at The O2, London, Tuesday 1 August at Manchester Arena and Thursday 3 August at Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena. Tickets for all shows are on sale now.

The legendary music icon announced her first UK and European Tour in over eight years on Wednesday, 25 January and the response from her fans across Europe has been incredible. 

Full tour dates are below.

Céline Dion Live 2017 - UK Tour

20 June       The O2 - London, UK
21 June        The O2 - London, UK
25 June        Manchester Arena, UK

27 July        Barclaycard Arena - Birmingham, UK
29 July        The O2 - London UK
30 July        The O2 - London UK

1 Aug        Manchester Arena, UK
3 Aug       Barclaycard Arena - Birmingham, UK

Full details and tickets here.

A tribute to Deke Leonard

It was with great sadness that we learned on Wednesday that Deke Leonard had passed away. Another great loss and shock for the world of music.
 
He played in so many bands in his formative years. Being a huge Elvis fan, he changed his name from Roger to Deke (after Elvis’s character Deke Rivers in ‘Loving You’).

As part of MAN and then ICEBERG and then MAN (again) he was an incredibly innovative guitar player. He had a unique voice with that totally recognisable ‘hard edge’. He also had a gigantic talent with words.

We were fortunate to be involved in so many amazing live shows over many years, and it was always inspiring.
 
Deke’s partnership with Micky Jones was something to behold, just about telepathic, super talents that blended and took notes and then made them soar and dive and thrill.

Sadly many of the members of MAN have passed, so perhaps there might be a heavenly reunion somewhere.

We know that George Jones (Micky Jones' son) brilliantly continues the legacy of the Man Band and it was wonderful to know that Deke was playing with the band in December, and in great form.
 
Deke was loved and admired around the world. In addition to his very special musical talents, his writing was full of humour and irony and touched anyone who’s ever been involved in the music industry.

His award winning radio shows for BBC Radio Wales will live on and on and stand the test of time, giving such insight to rock ‘n’ roll in the early days.
 
We know that his beloved Mary (as he always called her – and who made his life so special) must be heartbroken, along with his adored Katy and granddaughter Eydie, Ric and all the family as well as so many friends and colleagues who have always felt he was part of their family.   

Deke lived with us for several years, so we were fortunate enough to share a lot of his thoughts and witness some of his writing, which often came from the same blue chair that seemed his ‘comfortable’ place.

MAN and Deke’s music is still a very constant part of our lives, played loud and often.

He leaves us with many very special memories. Quite simply, he was our friend and we loved him.

This image seems the perfect way to close these few words for the Welsh Wizzard.

Our sincere thanks to Chalkie Davies for this great picture.

Rest in peace - Legend.

Barrie & Jenny

Global music sensation Céline Dion announces live 2017 UK & European tour

Legendary music icon Céline Dion, has today announced the LIVE 2017 tour - a 16 date tour that will see her return to the UK and Europe for the first time in over eight years along with a triumphant return to Paris after nine sold-out shows last summer. Set to kick-off on Thursday, Jun. 15 2017 at The Royal Arena, Copenhagen, the LIVE 2017 Tour will see Céline play shows in Sweden, The Netherlands, France, Switzerland and Germany.

Fans in the UK will be able to see her at The O2, London (Tuesday, Jun. 20 and Wednesday, Jun. 21), Manchester Arena (Sunday, Jun. 25) and Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham (Thursday, Jul. 27).

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, Feb. 3 at 9AM.

Members of Team Céline will have access to a pre-sale beginning Thursday, Jan. 26.

American Express® Cardmember presale will run from 9am Tuesday, Jan. 31 until 10pm Thursday, Feb. 2 on axs.com/amexpresale.

Exclusive VIP packages will also be available.

One of the most successful and widely respected female performers in music history, Céline’s return to Europe this summer will see her visiting cities that have not witnessed a performance from her since 2008’s “Taking Chances’’ World Tour, which became the second highest-grossing tour by a solo artist.

The CÉLINE DION LIVE 2017 Tour will feature an array of smash hits from her incredible 30 year career in music, which has produced over 250 million album sales, five Grammy Awards, two Academy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 20 Juno Awards (Canada) and an astonishing 40 Felix Awards (Quebec). In 2004, Céline received the Diamond award at the World Music Awards recognising her status as the best-selling female artist of all time. In 2007 she was honoured with the Legend Award at World Music Awards in recognition of her global success and outstanding contribution to the music industry, and 2016, she was presented with the prestigious ‘’Icon Award’’ at the Billboard Music Awards.

Céline commented: “I am so looking forward to returning to the UK and Europe this summer, these wonderful cities hold such special memories for me and I’m really excited to be coming back and seeing all my fans again.”

Céline is currently breaking records with her outstanding Las Vegas residency, which saw her reach an epic 1,000 performances in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in October 2016. Her first Las Vegas residency, A New Day…, was a groundbreaking production that was seen by over three million fans, spanning all seven continents and 138 countries. After taking a three year break from Las Vegas, Céline made a triumphant return in 2011 with her second residency simply titled, Céline, which features an impressive 31-piece band and orchestra. Performances are ongoing with shows currently on sale through June 2017.

Full Ticket Details:
20 June The O2 - London, UK theo2.co.uk
21 June The O2 - London, UK theo2.co.uk
25 June Manchester Arena, UK manchester-arena.com
27 July Barclaycard Arena - Birmingham, UK barclaycardarena.co.uk

Tickets for all shows available from:
AXS 08448 24 48 24 | axs.com
Ticketmaster 0844 844 0444 | ticketmaster.co.uk

Tickets for the CÉLINE DION LIVE 2017 Tour go on sale to the general public Friday, Feb. 3.

A tribute to George Michael

There are no words to describe our deep sadness and sense of loss, after hearing the devastating news that George passed away yesterday. He was a giant as a songwriter with one of the most awesome voices the world has ever heard – or will ever hear.

Music is so important and great music can never be duplicated.

George brought so much magic across the world and we feel privileged and humbled to have had the opportunity to work with this wonderful person over so many years.

We are blessed that he leaves an amazing legacy of music and songs that will be enjoyed for so many years to come. So it is a comfort that he will always be part of our lives.

Our thoughts and love go out to his family and friends – and all his millions of fans around the world.

Be at peace George and thank you for so many precious memories.

Al Jarreau announces two 2017 German dates with NDR Bigband

Al Jarreau returns with the renowned NDR Bigband and their sensational new programme The Duke Ellington Songbook - Ellington like you've never heard him before – Jarreau like you've never heard him before!

Once again, 2015 Al Jarreau returned to the place where his career really took off: Hamburg - the city that made him famous all over Germany 37 years ago. The reason was an offer he simply could not refuse. When NDR Bigband Leader Jörg Achim Keller approached Al Jarreau with the thought of the NDR Bigband revisiting the Duke Ellington Songbook with Jarreau as the vocalist, he couldn´t help himself but to helplessly fall in love with this idea.

So picture the 18 musicians of the NDR Bigband playing jazz in the studio, surrounding a 76 year old man throning like an eminence in their middle – despite not a grey eminence. With a smile like a sunbeam, he sings, he scats, he comes up with ideas. His tremendous lively energy radiates through the whole room and puts a smile on every face. He´s back.

Onkel Pö’s Carnegie Hall was the name of the place in Hamburg, by no means a hall, more like a small, smoke filled corner bar, that acted as launching pad for Uncle Al. His version of Dave Brubeck's Take Five he sang there for the first time, immediately got heralded as a true sensation. As you have it, only two weeks later he was famous all over Germany. "Of course I remember these times – how could I ever forget them? The people who saw me back in the day are still coming to my concerts today – bringing their grandchildren with them – to see Uncle Al! To come to Europe was one of the best ideas of my life. That experience opened my eyes to the fact that America indeed is a land full of european immigrants, and african immigrants, too. My initial idea was to share my music with the world, to share a smile with people, to dance and clap in time. And the first door that opened for me to this wonderful universe was here in Hamburg."

Now it´s to him to open doors once again. As Jörg Achim Keller's new take on Ellington's body of work by combining the qualities of Al Jarreau and the NDR Big Band through new arrangements, managed to create something really excitingly brand new – Ellington 2.0, if you will. Also, his collaboration with Keller managed to provide Jarreau, who grew up with the music of the greats like Ellington, Fitzgerald and so on with a totally new perspective of Ellington´s music than the few songs he already had in his live repertoire.

So, if push comes to shove, what is it that makes the difference to all the other Ellington programmes? First of all, it´s Jarreau's talent to not just cover a song (though he himself refers to his takes as Cover-Versions), but to completely making it his own and turning it into something exceptional – and also, it´s the unique quality of the human voice.

As Jarreau puts it "The voice is the first native instrument of humanity, it provides a warmth that no other instrument could ever fully imitate or substitute. Plus, the vocabulary, the messages that you can put into a song via the words, the sequence of words you are chosing to sing – all these ingredients create a very special form of human expression. I love language, I love to write lyrics that actually mean something, that are really saying something and that have a clear point. You can encourage people with words – a chance you just have to take!"

With the Duke Ellington Songbook Jarreau jumps at this chance in a way you'd never seen him do before or expected him to do so. If Germany would ever get the opportunity to adopt Al Jarreau as a citizen, it should not hesitate for a second.

Full details and tickets can be found here.

Herbie Hancock announces Stuttgart and Copenhagen dates for July 2017

Herbie Hancock announces Stuttgart and Copenhagen dates for July 2017

A true icon of modern music with an illustrious career spanning six decades and 14 Grammy® Awards, including Album of the Year for River: The Joni Letters, he continues to amaze audiences across the globe.

Herbie will bring his band to Europe to perform in the courtyard of the old castle, Stuttgart on July 10 and at the Danish Radio Concert Hall on Thursday July 13th.

There are few artists in the music industry who have had more influence on acoustic and electronic jazz and R&B than Herbie Hancock. As the immortal Miles Davis said, "Herbie was the step after Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, and I haven't heard anybody yet who has come after him."

Now in the sixth decade of his professional life, Herbie Hancock remains where he has always been: at the forefront of world culture, technology, business and music.

In addition to being recognised as a legendary pianist and composer, Herbie Hancock has been an integral part of every popular music movement since the 1960’s.

As a member of the Miles Davis Quintet that pioneered a groundbreaking sound in jazz, he also developed new approaches on his own recordings, followed by his work in the 70s - with record-breaking albums such as "Headhunters"- that combined electric jazz with funk and rock in an innovative style that continues to influence contemporary music. "Rockit" and "Future Shock" marked Hancock's foray into electronic dance sounds; during the same period he also continued to work in an acoustic setting with V.S.O.P., which included ex-Miles Davis bandmates Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams.

Hancock is currently in the studio at work on a new album with acclaimed young producer Terrace Martin (Kendrick Lamar, Robert Glasper).

Tickets for Stuttgart Jazz Open are on sale now via www.jazzopen.com.

Copenhagen Jazz Festival tickets go on sale on Monday December 19th via www.jazz.dk at 10:00AM CET

Callaghan announces London date for March 2017

Callaghan has announced she’ll be returning to the UK next March to perform at the beautiful St Pancras Old Church, London on Thursday 9 March.

“Callaghan is a wonderful artist…beautiful, warm and hugely talented.”
Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2

The US based singer songwriter will be playing songs from her acclaimed album, ‘A History of Now’ including the BBC Radio 2 play listed singles ‘Best Year’, ’We Don’t Have Change The World’ and ‘Last Song’. It will also give fans their first chance to hear new material from her upcoming EP recently recorded in Los Angeles.

Having sold out her last London show, tickets will no doubt be whipped up by her ever growing fan base.

Tickets go on sale at 9AM on Friday 16 December and are available to purchase from ticketmaster.co.uk, axs.com, songkick.com and gigantic.com

CALLAGHAN
Plus Robert Vincent

ST PANCRAS OLD CHURCH, LONDON
9 MARCH 2017

Elton John announces The Cut - A global competition to create music videos for his hits

“Bennie and the Jets,” “Rocket Man,” “Tiny Dancer” and You. Unleash your creativity for Elton John’s most iconic songs.

Introducing “Elton John: The Cut” - A Global Competition to Create the Official Music Videos for the Singer’s Most Iconic songs, supported by YouTube.

In celebration of Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s 50th anniversary of their songwriting partnership, Elton John, supported by YouTube, is giving undiscovered creative talent from all over the world the chance to create official music videos for three iconic songs: “Rocket Man,” “Tiny Dancer,” and “Bennie and the Jets.” As these songs were released before the rise of the music video, this competition gives aspiring creators the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase these best-loved hits like never before.

“Elton John: The Cut” will launch on Dec. 12, 2016 at YouTube’s year end show Brandcast, hosted by James Corden, with entries officially opening to the public on Jan. 9, 2017. Applicants can find contest details and advice on how to enter the competition at eltonjohn.com/thecut. Music video entries for each of the songs will feature different artistic elements - submissions for “Rocket Man” will feature animation, “Tiny Dancer” will be live-action, and “Bennie and the Jets” will feature choreography.

Together with a panel of YouTube creators and celebrated music and industry judges, Elton John and his writing partner Bernie Taupin will select three winners, and those winning entries will premiere on YouTube in the summer of 2017.

YouTube’s support provides the applicants of the three winning submissions with the resources necessary to realize their vision, from funding production to use of the YouTube Space facilities. The production of the final music videos will be supported by Pulse Films - a world-class production studio and the talent behind Beyonce’s Emmy nominated “Lemonade” film. YouTube will also award the prize fund of ten thousand U.S. dollars to the winning creators to support future video-based creative projects.

Elton John comments, “We’re excited to partner with YouTube to bring together generations of artists and music lovers around a shared passion for storytelling. YouTube is a rich tapestry of creativity, and I can’t wait to see how the breadth of talent from the dance, live-action and animation communities apply their vision to these cherished songs.”

Vivien Lewit, YouTube’s Global Head Artist Content & Services says: “This is a dream project that puts iconic music from a legendary artist in the hands of new creative talent, to reinvent these classic hits. We’re beyond thrilled to partner with Elton John and Universal to enable this program and bring to life a new way for the passionate fan community on YouTube to experience these songs that have inspired generations.”

Three YouTube creators, each with experience in animation, choreography, and live-action, will be responsible for shortlisting a set amount of entries and presenting their choices to a panel of final judges, who will be revealed on Jan. 9, 2017.

Kurt Hugo Schneider, a filmmaker and musician with over 7.8M subscribers, states “I’ve been sharing my interpretation of popular songs with the world for nearly a decade on YouTube. I am so humbled to be part of this initiative and I can’t wait to see how Tiny Dancer is brought to life by filmmakers and music lovers alike.”

PES, an Oscar and Emmy-nominated filmmaker whose shorts have thrilled audiences online, will be helping to select the final five entries for the animation video of “Rocket Man.” As an Elton John fan with a unique perspective on filmmaking, he is looking forward to getting started. “With such a wealth of talented young filmmakers and artists on YouTube, I can’t wait to see the ideas and help make them a reality.”

Parris Goebel, the director and choreographer behind Justin Bieber’s “Sorry (PURPOSE : The Movement)” dance video, with over 2B views on YouTube, says, “I can’t wait to see how dancers from all over -- whether they are fans of hip-hop, ballet, pop, or any other genre -- choose to visually express themselves in ‘Bennie and the Jets.’”

The competition closes on January 23rd and is open to anyone over 16, subject to local terms and conditions. To find out more about “Elton John: The Cut,” supported by YouTube, and how to enter, please visit www.eltonjohn.com/thecut.

Watch the campaign announcement below.

About YouTube
Launched in May 2005, YouTube is the world's most popular online video community allowing billions of people to discover, watch and share video.YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small. YouTube is a Google company.
youtube.com

About Pulse Films
Pulse Films is an award-winning, independent, modern-day studio encompassing the development, production, financing and distribution of cross-platform content for audiences worldwide. Pulse Films was founded by Thomas Benski and Marisa Clifford in 2005, and is headquartered in London with outposts in Los Angeles, New York, Paris and Berlin. Dedicated to creating moments of culture through innovative storytelling, Pulse Films operates under the following divisions: Film, Television, Branded Entertainment, Music and Commercials. In 2015 Pulse also launched its innovative format company East Entertainment, led by Nathan Eastwood. Pulse Films’ current and past projects include: feature films such as Andrea Arnold’s Cannes Jury Prize winner AMERICAN HONEY, Robert Eggers’ Sundance Award winning THE WITCH, Kahlil Joseph’s THE REFLEKTOR TAPES and Beyoncé’s Emmy nominated LEMONADE, as well as the Sundance award-winning ALL THESE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS; TV projects such as BLACK IS THE NEW BLACK (BBC Two) UNITED STATES OF HATE (BBC One / BBC Three), WHO’S SPENDING BRITAIN’S BILLIONS? (BBC Two) and HUNTING THE NAZI GOLD TRAIN (BBC Two); as well as strategic brand partnerships with the likes of Volvo, Converse, Nike, Red Bull & Chanel. In March 2016, VICE media acquired a majority stake in Pulse Films. For more information see: pulsefilms.com