Highlights:
- Legendary co-founder of The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson
- Carl Palmer of Emmerson, Lake & Palmer
- The TUSK festival returns for its 10th anniversary
- Diversity return with their Connected tour
Folkworks
Beoga
Tuesday 26 May, 8pm
Irish “new wave trad” quintet Beoga have announce a five-date UK tour, including Sage Gateshead.
Beoga’s most recent release was the unforgettable single, Make A Mark, featuring Ryan McMullan, released at the end of November and is the first to be taken from their upcoming mini-album due for release in May 2020. Make A Mark is a gorgeous meshing of two distinct talents – Ryan McMullan’s unmistakable vocals and Beoga’s outstanding musicianship – with a killer chorus hook and a sparkling instrumental break.
After five albums, a shortlist for a GRAMMY nomination and numerous international tours, Beoga reached a wider international audience as a result of a chance encounter with Ed Sheeran, Foy Vance and Johnny McDaid. This led to the band co-writing Ed’s massive hit Galway Girl and guesting on Nancy Mulligan from his album, Divide. They also performed as Ed Sheeran’s only special guest on his headlining Glastonbury 2017 performance and supported him on his record-breaking Irish stadium tour in 2018. This collaboration with one of contemporary pop music’s biggest icons led to Beoga exploring a more mainstream direction for their own record and working with a stellar line up of artists including Johnny McDaid, Foy Vance, Ed Sheeran, James Bay, and Ryan McMullan.
The new record sees them find a truly original sound at the intersection between traditional Irish music and contemporary pop .Through singles Matthew’s Daughter, featuring US country artist Devin Dawson, and Let You Go, featuring Nashville favourite Anderson East, the band have started to introduce audiences to this new sound and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Book Now: https://sagegateshead.com/whats-on/folkworks-beoga/
Brian Wilson – Good Vibrations Greatest Hits Tour
Saturday 6 June, 7.30pm
Co-founding member of The Beach Boys – Brian Wilson makes a welcome return to the UK to perform Good Vibrations Greatest Hits Live across the country, with special guests Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin.
Wilson has been universally hailed as a writer of one of the greatest American songbooks, Pet Sounds, which has reigned atop countless critic and fan polls, and has maintained its timeless rank as one of popular music’s most-cited influences. The Pet Sounds Anniversary World Tour was named one of Rolling Stone’s Greatest Tours of 2017; it travelled to more than 24 countries for 180 performances from 2016-2018.
As a teenager, Wilson co-founded The Beach Boys, signing with Capitol Records in July 1962 and releasing the band’s first album, Surfin’ Safari, that same year. Their initial surf-rock focus was soon broadened to include other themes. Wilson’s innovative vocal and instrumental arrangements for major hits, including I Get Around, California Girls, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, God Only Knows, and the number one smash, Good Vibrations, established The Beach Boys as America’s preeminent band of the 1960s.
Wilson has also achieved great success as a solo artist, with 11 of his own albums released to date, including his acclaimed 2004 completion of an album he first began recording in the ’60s, Brian Wilson Presents…SMiLE. The album earned Wilson his first GRAMMY for a recording, which was followed by his second GRAMMY win for producing The Beach Boys’ acclaimed 2011 release, The SMiLE Sessions.
In 2015, Wilson released his solo album No Pier Pressure and was the subject of the critically acclaimed, award-winning biopic Love & Mercy. Directed by Bill Pohlad and starring John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks and Paul Giamatti, Love & Mercy presents an unconventional portrait of the music legend. Set against the era-defining catalogue of the music, the film intimately examines the personal voyage and ultimate salvation of the iconic performer whose success came at an extraordinary personal cost. The culmination of these projects produced Wilson’s first Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song (Motion Picture) for One Kind of Love, which was featured in the film.
Brian Wilson is a Kennedy Center Honours recipient, a Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, and a U.K. Music Hall of Fame inductee. As a member of The Beach Boys, Wilson was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, and honoured with The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.
Book now: https://sagegateshead.com/whats-on/brian-wilson-good-vibrations-greatest-hits-tour/
Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy
Saturday 6 June, 8pm
Legendary musician Carl Palmer promises to bring a solid evening of classic Emerson Lake & Palmer material woven within the acclaimed musicianship of Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy band.
A founding member of ELP, ASIA and Atomic Rooster, Carl Palmer was voted by Rolling Stone as one of the 10 Greatest Drummers of All Time. Since he began in the business in the 1960s, Carl Palmer has sold more than 50 million records worldwide.
Since 2001, Carl has fronted a three-piece power trio featuring guitar, bass and drums interpretations of the classically driven rock hits of Emerson Lake & Palmer (without its signature keyboards). The band now also features vocalist Paul Bielatowicz, who will be singing all the great ELP classic hits. He has totally reinvented the music of ELP, touring regularly around the world with the band.
Currently, Palmer is promoting the 50th Anniversary of Emerson Lake & Palmer. ELP is back at the forefront of the international music scene, with the recent re-release of its catalogue on BMG Music. An extensive documentary on the band, You Were Meant To Be Here is currently in the works for release in 2021.
Also, in development with Radar Pictures, is a major Hollywood feature film, Karn Evil 9, a sci-fi epic based on the story and music the band created in 1973, with its Brain Salad Surgery album. Carl Palmer and his management team were appointed producers for the film.
In addition, Palmer has released a double CD/ DVD of Pictures At An Exhibition, a full concert tribute to his late bandmate, Keith Emerson.
Book now: https://sagegateshead.com/whats-on/carl-palmers-elp-legacy-tour/
TUSK Festival 2020
Friday 9 – Sunday 11 October
The internationally renowned TUSK Festival returns to celebrate its 10th edition this October, once again bringing its uniquely diverse programme of adventurous international music to the North East of England. Born in 2011, the annual editions of the festival have grown in stature and adventure over a decade, bringing artists from more than 30 countries to the North East, most visiting the region/UK for the first time, as well as bringing new audiences to a wealth of underground UK artists and welcoming major leftfield artists such as Terry Riley, Magma, London Contemporary Orchestra, Moor Mother, The Necks and others to the region for rare North East appearances.
TUSK also has an extensive online video archive of more than 100 recorded performances collectively approaching half a million views and has been described by The Guardian as “a multi-sensory showcase of sonic adventures” and by The Quietus as “One of the finest – and friendliest – expressions of underground and experimental music culture in these islands.”
Continuing its partnership with Sage Gateshead, TUSK again makes full use of the landmark building, its flexible public spaces and truly high-end production values to showcase a TUSK 2020 line-up that is as bold and exciting as ever. Once more, alongside a truly eclectic and international music menu and TUSK’s trademark slew of UK debuts, festival-goers can again enjoy the festival’s renowned film programme, exhibitions, talks, installations, interactions and more.
Book now: https://sagegateshead.com/seasons/tusk-festival-2020/
Gordon Giltrap
Friday 06 November, 7.45pm
Recently awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honour list for services to music and charity, legendary British guitarist Gordon Giltrap will be performing a select series of shows across the UK.
Through five decades, Gordon Giltrap has graced the music business with his dedication to his craft and his affection for his audience. As one of the UK’s most respected guitarists, he has consistently proved the adage that respect cannot be bought. It must be earned.
This innovative guitarist is back out on the road performing many of his remarkable songs with incredible arrangements in what promises to be an electrifying solo acoustic show. Expect to hear classics such as Heartsong and Lucifer’s Cage, alongside new material from his latest album, The Last of England.
A show guaranteed to enthral guitar aficionados, acoustic enthusiasts and music lovers in general. Don’t miss the chance to see one of the UK’s most important and influential guitarists in action.
Book now: https://sagegateshead.com/whats-on/gordon-giltrap/
Joe Wilson Night
Sunday 29 November, 4pm and 8pm
Following the successes of Mr Corvan’s Music Hall, The Great Joe Wilson and The Great Geordie Songbook at Sage Gateshead, Wisecrack Productions are proud to present Joe Wilson Night 2020.
Joe Wilson (“The Bard of Tyneside”) was born in Stowell Street on November 29, 1841. In his short life (he died in 1875), Joe wrote around 260 brilliant songs and poems, including the classics Keep Your Feet Still Geordie Hinny, Sally Wheatley and Gallowgate Lass.
Always different, this fantastic evening of classic and modern Geordie songs, comedy and poetry will be performed by some of the region’s top theatre talent.
Book now: https://sagegateshead.com/whats-on/joe-wilson-night-2020/
The Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Ray McVay
Sunday 03 January 2021, 3pm
Ray McVay leads the with the fabulous harmonies of the Moonlight Serenaders and the sublime vocals of Catherine Sykes and Mark Porter. Also featuring the jazz sounds of The Uptown Hall Gang – an outstanding Dixieland group drawn from members of the orchestra.
Featuring: – In the Mood, Moonlight Serenade, American Patrol, Little Brown Jug, Tuxedo Junction and the song that became pop history’s first gold disc, Chattanooga Choo Choo!
There will also be a special tribute to the famed Rat Pack – Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. – who performed in the same era!
Audiences of all ages will be thrilled by the sound of this amazing Big Band.
Book now: https://sagegateshead.com/whats-on/glenn-miller-orchestra-2021/
Duke Ellington – Strictly Smokin’ Big Band with Pete Long
Saturday 27 February 2021, 8pm
Duke Ellington: one of the greatest big band leaders of all time.
His cutting-edge originality still sounds fresh today and his partnership with the great arranger Billy Strayhorn is unsurpassed within the genre since.
Sage Gateshead is thrilled not only to present an evening of the Duke’s music, but also to be hosting Ellington aficionado Pete Long.
Along with a range of Ellington’s other music, the band will be performing a rare Northern outing of Pete’s Jazz Planets, based on the work of Gustav Holst on The Planet Suite’s 100th birthday.
Pete Long is the musical director of the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra, and for the last thirty years has been researching and re-creating the music of Duke Ellington. His band has received awards, toured Europe and has been one of a handful of large British jazz ensembles to tour the U.S.
Michael Lamb’s Strictly Smokin’ Big Band will feature Alice Grace, along with the band’s usual array of top draw musicians many of whom will take solo roll’s in Pete’s Jazz Planets.
Book now: https://sagegateshead.com/whats-on/duke-ellington-strictly-smokin-big-band-with-pete-long/
Diversity – Connected 2021
Tuesday 6 April and Wednesday 7 April 2021, 6.30pm
After nine sell out UK tours, over 600,000 tickets sold, and countless television and live performances Diversity have announced one of their biggest UK tours to date.
Last year marked 10 years since Diversity took the nation by storm when they won the third series of Britain’s Got Talent. Over the past 10 years thanks to the overwhelming support of their fans and the British public they have continued to wow audiences around the world with their innovative live tours and performances. They celebrated this incredible achievement with a critically acclaimed sell-out 48 show UK tour, Born Ready.
This tour is set to be even bigger, and as Diversity promised their fans on the Born Ready tour, they will continue the legacy of Diversity and never let anyone tell them they cannot achieve something. To take them into the new decade of Diversity, Ashley has created a new show, Connected, which centres around the world of social media, the internet, and the digital era we now live in, but more importantly how this connects us all.
Creator and choreographer Ashley Banjo said of the forthcoming tour, “Every year that goes by, and every time we get to create a new touring show, I cannot believe we are still lucky enough to get to do this. But even after all this time, we are still growing, and this new decade and new chapter for Diversity is sure to be something even more special than the last. I truly do believe that we are all connected in mores ways than one and I cannot wait to bring this to life on stage.”
Ashley Banjo has returned to the judging panel for his third series on ITV’s primetime show Dancing on Ice. Ashley has also hosted, choreographed and starred in the BAFTA nominated The Real Full Monty (2017-2019) and International Emmy Award, Broadcast Award, and Royal Television Society award winning The Real Full Monty: Ladies Night (2018) and (2019). Ashley’s show Flirty Dancing on Channel 4 completed it second hit series last December.
Fellow Diversity member Jordan Banjo is currently hosting the second series of BBC 1’s primetime show, The Greatest Dancer.
Diversity continue to inspire the next generation of dancers and cannot wait to launch their online dance classes 20DV and return to Butlins this summer to showcase their 20DV experience dance academies.
Book now: https://sagegateshead.com/whats-on/diversity-2021/