Birmingham Christmas show for Rick Wakeman
Following the hugely successful Piano Portraits tour last year, Rick Wakeman has decided to do it all again.
The virtuoso has a new release and tour, this time entitled Piano Odyssey, which will stop off at Birmingham's Town Hall on December 11 and will pack a festive twist. The record precedes that, arriving on September 14.
The tour will feature even more classic tracks given Rick’s unique piano treatment, and will travel to towns and cities not previously visited in 2017.
Rick said: “In the footsteps of Piano Portraits, the new album Piano Odyssey features a collection of music old and new that includes some particular favourites of mine. I’m looking forward to performing tracks from it live on my own odyssey around the UK.”
Upon the release of his Piano Portraits album in January 2017, the YES keyboardist made chart history, becoming the first solo piano album to enter the UK’s Top 10, eventually reaching No.6.
Inspired by the unprecedented public reaction to his cover of Bowie’s Life On Mars on BBC Radio 2 a year earlier, the album features instrumental versions of hits that Rick was originally involved with, such as Space Oddity and Morning Has Broken, as well as others which he chose for their melodies, including Stairway To Heaven and Help!.
The December dates - including Birmingham - are being viewed as a separate, special Christmas tour, in which the setlist will be given a distinctly seasonal twist.
Expect a night of beautiful piano arrangements, interspersed with Wakeman’s renowned comedy interludes.
Tickets for both runs of the tour are available here, and prices begin at £29.50.
