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Shakin’ Stevens is to embark on his biggest ever UK tour visiting 33 towns and cities across England, Scotland and Wales in 2017.

The announcement comes just days after Shaky, as he is known to millions, released his critically acclaimed 12^th studio album Echoes Of Our Times.

The Echoes Of Our Times Tour will see the UK’s biggest-selling artist of a decade hit the road from Easter next year with the opening night on Saturday April 15 in Carlisle. Shaky will then travel the length and breadth of the country, including London’s Shepherds Bush Empire on 2^nd May, before ending the tour on the 28^th May.

Tickets for the Echoes Of Our Times Tourare priced from £24 and will go on sale at 9am Friday September 23 from www.ticketmaster.co.uk

With 33 hit singles and four UK No. 1s to his name, the Platinum-selling entertainer and performer will be exciting his audiences as he performs new tracks from Echoes Of Our Times,along with classic hits, and a few surprises.

Speaking about the tour announcement Shaky said: “I can’t wait to get back on the road, and introduce the songs from ‘Echoes Of Our Times’ to people who have seen me perform in the past, and those who have not.”

The tour will see this Welsh singer unveil another side to his talents, as an artist, songwriter and storyteller.

Echoes Of Our Times blends blues, roots, Americana and classic rock. Detailing stories from his intriguing family history, Shakin’ Stevens has created a remarkable musical tribute to his once mysterious past.

The 33-date tour is presented by UK event promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

Director Peter Taylor said: “We are thrilled to be presenting Shakin’ Stevens biggest ever UK tour. This promises to be a fantastic 33 nights of entertainment across the UK and we look forward to welcoming an abundance of fans both old and new.”

Tickets for the Echoes Of Our Times Tour go on sale at 9am Friday and are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Tour Dates:

April

• Sat 15 The Sands, Carlisle
• Sun 16 The Lowry, Salford
• Tues 18 Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
• Weds 19 The Orchard, Dartford
• Thurs 20 The Coliseum, Watford
• Fri 21 The Pavilion, Worthing
• Sun 23 The Opera House, Buxton
• Mon 24 St David’s, Cardiff
• Tues 25 The Forum, Bath
• Thurs 27 The Churchill, Bromley
• Fri 28 The Hexagon, Reading
• Sat 29 Regent Theatre, Ipswich
• Sun 30 Assembly Theatre, Tunbridge Wells

May

• Tues 2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London
• Thurs 4 Venue Cymru, Llandudno
• Fri 5 The Opera House, Blackpool
• Sat 6 Baths Hall, Scunthorpe
• Sun 7 Theatre Royal, Norwich
• Tues 9 The Queens Theatre Hall, Barnstaple
• Weds 10 Hall For Cornwall, Truro
• Thurs 11 The Pavilion, Plymouth
• Fri 12 Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay
• Sun 14 Guildhall, Portsmouth
• Mon 15 Alban Arena, St Albans
• Tues 16 City Hall, Salisbury
• Thurs 18, The Barbican, York
• Fri 19 Parr Hall, Warrington
• Sun 21 Grand Theatre, Leeds
• Mon 22 Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
• Tues 23 Eden Court, Inverness
• Fri 26 Town Hall, Birmingham
• Sat 27 Corn Exchange, Cambridge
• Sun 28 Whiterock Theatre, Hastings

Upcoming indie-quartet The Lottery Winners are about to embark on their 16-date “World Tour of the UK” just weeks after signing a major recording deal.

Fresh from summer performances on the festival circuit the band will be bringing a spot of Lancashire hospitality to venues up and down the country.

The Lottery Winners will perform at venues across the UK:

• The Loft @ The Arts Club, Liverpool (18 September)
• Hare & Hounds, Birmingham (19 September)
• Glee, Cardiff (20 September)
• Moles, Bath (21 September)
• Golden Lion, Bristol (22 September)
• StereoSat, Glasgow (23 September)
• Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh (24 September)
• Joiners, Southampton (25 September)
• Hope & Ruin, Brighton (26 September)
• Black Heart, London (27 September)
• Glee, Nottingham (28 September)
• Donkey, Leicester (29 September)
• Oporto, Leeds (2 October)
• Flibbers, York (3 October)
• Cluny, Newcastle (4 October)
• Academy 3, Manchester (6 October)

Tickets for The Lottery Winners World Tour of the UK are priced from £11.50 and are available from www.ticketweb.co.uk

Made up of Thom, Robert, Katie and Joe, The Lottery Winners came together during their high school years and have gone on perform gigs across the North West, supporting numerous acts including the likes of The Wonder Stuff.

This summer they headlined the Stage Too at Lytham Festival, signed a deal with Sire/Warner Bros and are now ready to storm the UK.

Lead singer Thom said: “We can barely believe we’re actually doing a proper headline tour.

“Touring is the most exciting thing you could possibly do. The thing that makes us most happy is to play live, and we just can’t wait to get in our little red van and discover our wonderful country.

“We’ve been working hard on material for the past eight years, and we finally get to show it all off!”

Alongside the Warner deal they’ve also had their track I Know used as the theme song for comedian Greg Davies’ new Channel 4 show Man Down and Manchester United regularly play their track Elizabethduring their half time entertainment.

Tickets for The Lottery Winners World Tour of the UK are priced from £11.50 and are available from www.ticketweb.co.uk

It is announced today that Marti Pellow will tour the UK in 2017 with the 10-date “Mysterious Tour”.

One of the UK’s biggest pop icons will be on the road from Wednesday March 15 when he begins the tour in Carlisle.

Marti will then perform at venues across the UK:

· Bridgewater Hall, Manchester (17 March)

· Venue Cymru, Llandudno (18 March)

· Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (19 March)

· The Barbican, York (21 March)

· Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow (22 March)

· The Sage, Gateshead (24 March)

· Birmingham Town Hall (25 March)

· London Palladium (26 March)

· Plymouth Pavilions (27 March)

Tickets for The Mysterious Tour are priced from £39.50. They go on sale 9am Friday September 2 and are available from www.ticketmaster.com

The tour will coincide with Marti’s new album Mysterious, which will be released in March 2017.

Marti said: “I’m coming out with my full band and horns for the first time in over a decade – and I can’t wait to tear your playhouse down!”

Coming off the back of a sell-out 16 date Arena tour with Wet Wet Wet, Marti is very excited to be going back to what he loves to do most – playing his own original music from his new album and from a career that spans thirty years, in the intimacy of these smaller 2000 seater venues.

The Mysterious Tour is presented by UK music and event promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

Marti said: “Having worked with the concert promoters Cuffe and Taylor several times as a solo artist and with Wet Wet Wet, I’m delighted to be working with them on this tour – we feel that they are at the very forefront of the most exciting new promoters in the UK today”

The venues criss-cross the UK and give thousands of fans the opportunity to see one of the country’s favourite performers live on stage.

Marti’s new album Mysterious was recorded in Los Angeles, creating an iconic sound collaborating with the legendary Tower of Power horn section and with writers such as Allee Willis of Earth Wind & Fire’s Boogie Wonderland fame. Marti can’t wait to perform songs from his incredible new album along with songs from his three-decade career spanning 20 albums and tens of millions of sales.

Tickets for The Mysterious Tour priced from £39.50 go on sale 9am Friday September 2 and are available from www.ticketmaster.com

It is announced today that Les & Alan’s Bay City Rollers will be heading to Glasgow as part of their UK tour this December.

Rollermania will arrive in town as the Scottish 70s pop stars take to the stage at the SSE Hydro on Sunday December 11 for a Shangalang Christmas Party.

The Bay City Rollers will also perform at venues across the UK along with special guests & fellow 70’s icons Sweet:

· 14 December – Hammersmith Apollo, London

· 16 December – Empress Ballroom, Blackpool

Tickets for The Rollers’ Shangalang Christmas Party at the SSE Hydro are priced from £29.50. They go on sale 9am September 2 and are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk

The band came to fame in the 1970s with a string of hits which quickly earned them the title of ‘biggest group since the Beatles’ and transformed them into worldwide teen idols.

With hits including Shangalang, Rememberand their cover of Four Seasons hit Bye Bye Baby, the band boast ten UK top 10 singles and four UK top 10 albums. They also broke the American market scoring a number one in the Billboard 100 with their track Saturday Night.

During their career the band have performed everywhere from the UK to Japan and after their twelve-year hiatus reunited as part of a millennium concert in their hometown of Edinburgh on New Year’s Eve 1999.

These latest dates come hot on the heels of performances at T in the Park and Lytham Festival during the summer where the band brought ‘rollermania’ to a whole new audience.

Their last Christmas tour saw tickets flying out of the door with four nights at the Barrowlands selling out just nine minutes after they went on sale, and this year is expected to be no different.

Bay City Rollers Tour Booker Donald MacCleod added: “The band are really looking forward to giving people a Shangalang-style Christmas 2016.

“The success of last year’s Christmas tour and their summer festival appearances have spurred the band on to new heights and we think there might be a few surprises in store for die-hard rollers fans – so don’t miss out.”

The Bay City Rollers feat. Les & Alan are presented by UK music and event promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

Cuffe and Taylor Director Peter Taylor said: “The Bay City Rollers are a hugely loved band that were idols for teenagers across the globe in the 70s.

“I’m sure that lots of people will have fond memories of rollermania sweeping the nation and will be keen to relive it on this tour.

“These dates are going to be extremely popular with the band’s tartan army of fans so we’d advise booking without delay to secure your ticket.”

Tickets priced from £29.50 go on sale 9am September 2 and are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk

It is announced today that the Military Wives Choirs will tour UK cathedrals in 2016 with their seven-date “Home For Christmas” Tour.

The choirs, which are made up of wives and partners of armed forces personnel as well as women from the wider military community, will be on the road from Monday November 21 when they begin their tour at Winchester Cathedral.

The 18 Military Wives Choirs will then perform at cathedrals across the UK:

· Durham Cathedral (22 November)

· Bradford Cathedral (25 November)

· Norwich Cathedral (26 November)

· Exeter Cathedral (28 November)

· Lichfield Cathedral (29 November)

· Hereford Cathedral (30 November)

Tickets for the Home for Christmas Tour are priced from £25. They go on sale Friday September 2 and are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk

The choirs, which boast two UK number one singles as part of their repertoire, will perform a selection of tracks from their soon-to-be-released new album Home For Christmas as well as from their two UK top ten albums In My Dreams and Stronger Together.

The cathedral tour is presented by event promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

Cuffe and Taylor Director Peter Taylor said: “We’re really looking forward to working with the Military Wives.

“The choirs are incredibly talented and unique in terms of their social purpose to bring together the wives and partners of servicemen and women.

“The Home For Christmas tour is sure to be loved by many so we advise booking your tickets now to avoid disappointment.”

The Military Wives Choirs first shot to fame when they took part in Gareth Malone’s The Choir. They captured the nation’s heart instantly and went on to secure their first UK number one single Wherever You Are.

In 2012 they also performed at the opening of the Olympic Stadium London contributing to the Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber track Sing created to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.

Sue Daniels, Chair of Trustees for the Military Wives Choirs Foundation, added: “This tour provides an exciting opportunity for many of the choirs within our network to perform music that is incredibly meaningful to them. To be able to do that in the lead up to Christmas, and in such extraordinary buildings, will be an absolute pleasure for everyone involved.”

Tickets priced at £25 go on sale Friday September 2 and are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk

TV favourite Wendi Peters and musical theatre star Dave Willets will take audiences down the rabbit hole when musical Wonderland comes to Blackpool next year.

The multi Grammy, Tony and Drama Desk Award nominated show arrives at Blackpool Opera House from 10 – 15 April 2017 following sold out seasons and rave reviews in Texas, Tampa and Tokyo.

The Blackpool dates are part of the show’s first ever UK tour, giving audiences the chance to see this hugely popular adaptation of Lewis Carrol’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.

Tickets priced from £17.50 are on sale now from www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

TV and West End star Wendi Peters, best known for her role as Cilla Battersby, in ITV’s Coronation Street will headline the show as the Queen of Hearts.

She will be joined by Dave Willets in the role of the White Rabbit. Dave has enjoyed a glittering 25-year career on the stage with highlights including Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and Cats.

Further casting is yet to be announced.

Winter Gardens Managing Director Michael Williams said: “We’re thrilled with the casting announcements for two of the lead roles in Wonderland.

“To have this show coming to Blackpool as part of its first UK tour is fantastic for the resort. After sell out tours with rave reviews across the globe we’re sure that our audiences will not want to miss this sensational adaptation of a much loved children’s classic.”

Hailed by the New York Times as “inspirational”, Wonderland is an enchanting musical with a huge heart, a medley of magic and a whole lot of wonder.

In the tradition of the best stage musicals, Wonderland boasts a catchy score full of songs from Frank Wildhorn, writer of pop hits including Whitney Houston’s ‘Where Do Broken Hearts Go?’ and theatre classics including ‘This is the Moment’ from his internationally acclaimed show, Jekyll & Hyde.

Produced by Neil Eckersley, Wonderland has music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Jack Murphy, book by Jack Murphy and Gregory Boyd with UK adaptation by Ava Eldred. It is directed by Lotte Wakeham (Associate Director of Matilda, West End & Broadway), with musical supervision by Jason Howland (Beautiful, West End & Broadway), choreography by Lucie Pankhurst (Dogfight at the Southwark Playhouse), design by Georgia Lowe (Pomona for the Orange Tree, National Theatre & Royal Exchange) and lighting design by Tony Award nominee Nick Richings (current UK tours of Priscilla Queen of the Desert & The Rocky Horror Show).

Wonderland will play at Blackpool Opera House from Monday 10 to Saturday 15 April 2017. For more details go to www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

A host of musical theatre stars will join pop star Sarah Harding and TV heart-throb Andy Moss when Ghost – The Musical heads to Blackpool.

West End star Jacqui Duboiswill take on the role of Oda Mae Brown which was made famous by Whoopi Goldberg in the film of the same name.

Also taking to the stage will be Sam Feriday as Carl, Leo Sene as Willie, James Earl Adair as the Hospital Ghost, Gary Lee Netley as the Subway Ghost, Tarisha Rommick as Louise and Simbi Akande as Clara. Completing the cast will be Lori Baker, Ethan Bradshaw, Lauren Drew, Matthew Vinetot, Mike Ward and Kelly Hampson.

They will join Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding who will star as Molly and former Hollyoaks heart-throb Andy Mosswho plays Sam.

The show will run at Blackpool Opera House from Monday October 3 to Monday October 15. Tickets are on sale now from www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

Producer Bill Kenwright said: “ Ghost is a story full of hope, and is one of those films which never leaves you.

“The book by Bruce Joel Rubin and score by Dave Stewart and Glenn Ballad come together wonderfully in one of my favourite new musicals in years.”

The show, which takes its inspiration from the classic film, is set to be an innovative reimagining of the story with an expanded book, original staging and new music.

The double academy award winning film was both a critical and box office success when it was released in 1990 and starred the late Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Tony Goldwyn and Whoopi Goldberg.

Winter Gardens Managing Director Michael Williams added: “This new casting information is a great addition to the fantastic line-up we already have with Sarah and Andy taking on the lead roles.

“We’ve had such demand for Ghost that we have already extended the run by five nights and we’re sure people are going to love the show when it arrives.

“The film is a classic which is loved by millions and to have this stage version coming just a few weeks after our successful run of Dirty Dancing is something really special for the town and Winter Gardens’ audiences.”

Ghost the Musical will run at Blackpool Opera House from Monday October 03 to Saturday 15.

Tickets are on sale now priced from £19.50.

For more information, go to www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

The Rocky Horror Show has announced a glittering cast for its run at Blackpool Opera House this Autumn.

The iconic role of The Narrator will be played by Punt & Dennis star Steve Punt.

S Club 7 star Paul Cattermole and Liam Tamne, who shot to fame in series two of The Voice, continue to excite audiences in the roles of Eddie/Dr Scott and Dr Frank N Furter respectively. The title role of Rocky is played by Dominic Andersen. Janet will be played by theatre star Haley Flaherty. Completing the cast are Rocky favourites Kristian Lavercombe as Riff Raff and Richard Meek, who plays Brad.

Themusical horror comedy will run at the Opera House from Monday September 26 to Saturday October 1.

Tickets priced from £15 are on sale now and are available from www.wintergardensblackpool.com

The 2016 UK Tour of the Rocky Horror Show has now been seen by more than 230,000 people, grossing more than £5million at the box office since its first performance atBrighton’s Theatre Royal in December 2015.

Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show was first performed on 19 June 1973 at the Royal Court Theatre and has become the world’s favourite Rock N’ Roll musical, having been performed worldwide for more than 40 years in more than 30 countries and translated into more than 20 languages.

It tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two squeaky clean college kids, who meet Dr Frank N Furter by chance when their car breaks down outside his house while on their way to visit their former college professor. It is an adventure they’ll never forget, with fun, frolics, frocks, and frivolity, bursting with timeless songs and outrageous outfits.

Winter Gardens Managing Director Michael Williams said: “The Rocky Horror Show is always a firm favourite with audiences as it’s one of those shows where it’s practically obligatory to dress up in the most outrageous of outfits.

“The casting is fantastic for when the show comes to the Blackpool Opera House and we are looking forward to a week of very enthusiastic audiences.”

Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the Rocky Horror Show is a guaranteed party, which famously combines science-fiction, horror, comedy and music. Audience participation is encouraged, meaning of course, getting dressed in your most outrageous fancy dress. This musical extravaganza features all of its famous musical classics including“Science Fiction/Double Feature”, “Dammit Janet” and of course, the timeless floor-filler,“The Time-Warp”. Ready to thrill you with fun and naughty moments, O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show is the boldest bash of them all. Be warned, this show has rude parts!

The UK tour follows last year’s star-studded live screening of The Rocky Horror Show at London’s Playhouse Theatre, which was broadcast to thousands of cinemas across the UK and Europe. Guest narrators included Stephen Fry, Mel Giedroyc, Emma Bunton, Anthony Head, Adrian Edmondson and Rocky creator Richard O’Brien. The performance was subsequently screened on Sky Arts.

Bursting at the seams with timeless classics, including Sweet Transvestite, Damn it Janet,and of course, the pelvic-thrusting Time Warp,Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Showis a non-stop party!

Be warned, this show has rude parts!

The Rocky Horror Show is suitable for people aged 14 and above.

For more information go to www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

Hit musical comedy Sister Act is coming to Blackpool’s Opera House in summer 2017.

It is announced today (WEDS 3 AUGUST) that the brand new production will star X-Factor winner and musical theatre star Alexandra Burke in the lead role of Deloris Van Cartier.

So, book your tickets now and get back in the habit!

Sister Act will run at the Blackpool Opera House from Tuesday August 22 to Sunday August 27 2017 with tickets priced from £19 going on sale this Friday from www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

 Winter Gardens Managing Director Michael Williams said Sister Act is the perfect addition to the 2017 calendar.

 Mr Williams said: “This is great news for Blackpool and the Opera House to have secured Sister Act in the middle of the 2017 summer season.

“The film is loved by millions and this new adaptation for the stage show should be a real treat for our audiences.

“We have already announced a number of shows for 2017 and are particularly excited to be welcoming not only the smash hit that is Sister Act, but also Alexandra Burke.”

This reimagined stage show of the hit film will be directed and choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing judge and Blackpool favourite Craig Revel Horwood.

Based on the smash hit movie starring Whoopi Goldberg and Maggie Smith, SISTER ACT tells the hilarious story of Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won’t be found – a convent! Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own.

Alexandra Burke rose to fame when she won the fifth series of X-Factor and since then has supported the likes of Beyonce on tour as well as appearing in the lead role in the stage adaptation of The Bodyguard.

At the matinee performances, the role of Deloris Van Cartier will be played by Joanna Francis. Joanna Francis has recently finished performing in the West End production of The Lion King. Her other credits include Carmen Jones at the Royal Festival Hall, The Harder They Come” at the Barbican and Stratford East and as Sybil in The Big Life at the Apollo Theatre.

Today’s announcement is the third show to be unveiled for Blackpool Opera House in 2017 after it was revealed earlier this year that Wonderland – a musical adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass – will run at the venue next April, and last month it was announced a sparkling new production of The Wedding Singer starring Jon Robyns, Ray Quinn, Cassie Compton, Roxanne Pallett and Ruth Madoc is coming to the venue next July.

For more information, go to www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds are set to perform two seaside concerts in a row on opposite sides of the country and tickets are selling out fast.

Kicking off the double bill at Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Wednesday August 3, Noel will perform to a capacity crowd before hot footing it across the Pennines to Lytham Festival to perform Thursday August 4.

The concerts are organised by promoters Cuffe and Taylor who arrange both the Scarborough Open Air Theatre concerts and Lytham Festival, the largest festival in the North West.

Director Peter Taylor said: “We cannot wait for Noel’s gigs at Scarborough Open Air Theatre and Lytham Festival.

“Tickets have been flying out of the door and we’re sure that both nights are going to be capacity crowds with an electric atmosphere.”

The gig at Scarborough Open Air Theatre will be the first time Noel has played live in Scarborough and with less than 8,000 tickets available for the unique venue, tickets are selling out fast.

The following night’s Lytham gig will mark the first time multi-award winning singer and songwriter Noel has played live on the Lancashire Coast since October 1995 when his former band Oasis performed a now legendary show at Blackpool’s iconic Empress Ballroom on the very day the landmark album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory was released.

Tickets for Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at Lytham Festival are priced from £45, while at Scarborough Open Air Theatre they are priced from £49.50 with seating and standing available.

Tickets for Lytham Festival are available from www.lythamfestival.com or from the Lytham Festival Box Office in Lytham Piazza. Tickets for Scarborough Open Air Theatre are available from www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com or from the Box Office.