Bill's on tour, he already played three shows, this is the review of one of them

Grand Theatre, Swansea Rocktober 17
Southport Theatre, Southport (see review below) Rocktober 18
De Montfort Hall, Leicester yesterday, Rocktober 19


 

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AN impressive crowd ventured onto a Promenade battered by gales and lashed rain to see the most talented member of the Rolling Stones, accompanied by his eight-piece all-star band, the Rhythm Kings.

Bill Wyman wandered onstage to explain they would be playing an eclectic selection of music ranging across the fields of jazz, blues, standards, R & B, rockabilly, soul, skiffle and rock’n’roll.

The show opened with George Fame playing a few bars of Gracie Field’s ‘Sally’, insisting he came from Leigh not Rochdale and he used to come to Southport for his holidays as a kid.

Highspots for me were England’s top guitarist, Albert Lee, turning to skiffle for ‘Muleskinner Blues’; Shakin’ Stevens’ ex-keyboard player, Geraint Watkins, with a soulful version of Irma Thomas’s ‘It’s Raining’; the glamorous Beverly Skeete performing a great version of Jackie Wilson’s ‘I’ll be Satisfied’ and Mary Wilson, making a quick return to Southport, sounding as good as Diana Ross on three old Supremes hits.

The first half of the show, which closed with the quietly watching Wyman stepping into the limelight to sing Chuck Berry’s ‘You Never Can Tell’, then the second half followed the same pattern except Mary Wilson chose to do numbers from her new CD as a change, she said, from her Motown days. The finale came far too soon with Mary Wilson leading the band in a rousing version of ‘Dancing in the Street’ and the crowd were shouting for more as the lights came up.

It was the pop music equivalent of a classical concert played by as talented a group of musicians as you would find anywhere in Britain

it's a full UK tour. Flairville and I will be there in 2 weeks.

scuk

Monday, October 17, 2011
Grand Theatre, Swansea
Box office: 01792 475715
Online: www.swanseagrand.co.uk

Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Southport Theatre, Southport
Box office: 0844 847 2380
Online: www.southporttheatre.org.uk

Wednesday, October 19, 2011
De Montfort Hall, Leicester
Box office: 0116 233 3111
Online: www.demontforthall.co.uk

Friday, October 21, 2011
Dorking Halls, Dorking
Box office: 01306 881717
Online: www.dorkinghalls.co.uk

Saturday, October 22, 2011
Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Box office: 01492 872000
Online: www.venuecymru.co.uk

Sunday, October 23, 2011
Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes
Box office: 0844 871 7652
Online: www.ambassadortickets.com/Milton-Keynes-Theatre

Monday, October 24, 2011
Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Box office: 0161 907 9000
Online: www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk

Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Town Hall, Birmingham
Box office: 0121 780 3333
Online: www.thsh.co.uk

Thursday, October 27, 2011
King's Lynn Corn Exchange, King's Lynn
Box office: 01553 764864
Online: www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk

Friday, October 28, 2011 - **NEW DATE ADDED**
Sturmer Hall, Haverhill
Box office: 01440 705368
Online: www.sturmerhall.com

Saturday, October 29, 2011
The Sage, Gateshead
Box office: 0191 443 4661
Online: www.thesagegateshead.org

Sunday, October 30, 2011
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
Box office: 0844 871 7647
Online: www.ambassadortickets.com/Theatre-Royal-Glasgow

Monday, October 31, 2011
Concert Hall, Perth
Box office: 01738 621 031
Online: www.horsecross.co.uk/about/perth-concert-hall

Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Aberdeen Music Hall, Aberdeen
Box office: 01224 641122
Online: www.boxofficeaberdeen.com

Thursday, November 3, 2011
Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield
Box office: 0114 2789789
Online: www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

Friday, November 4, 2011
Hull City Hall, Hull
Box office: 01482 226 655
Online: www.hullcc.gov.uk/hullcityhall

Saturday, November 5, 2011
Harrogate International Centre, Harrogate
Box office: 0845 1308 840
Online: www.harrogateinternationalcentre.co.uk

Sunday, November 6, 2011
Buxton Opera House, Buxton
Box office: 0845 1272190
Online: www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk

Monday, November 7, 2011 - **NEW DATE ADDED**
Town Hall, Birmingham
Box office: 0121 780 3333
Online: www.thsh.co.uk

Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Anvil, Basingstoke
Box office: 01256 844244
Online: www.anvilarts.org.uk

Thursday, November 10, 2011
G-Live, Guildford
Online: www.glive.co.uk

Friday, November 11, 2011
Lighthouse, Poole
Box office: 0844 406 8666
Online: www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

Saturday, November 12, 2011
Theatre Royal, Norwich
Box office: 01603 630000
Online: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

Sunday, November 13, 2011
Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury
Box office: 0844 871 7607
Online: www.ambassadortickets.com/aylesbury

Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Colston Hall, Bristol
Box office: 0117 922 3686
Online: www.colstonhall.org

Wednesday, November 16, 2011
City Hall, Salisbury
Box office: 01722 434434
Online: www.cityhallsalisbury.co.uk

Friday, November 18, 2011
Cadogan Hall, London
Box office: 0207 730 4500
Online: www.cadoganhall.com

Saturday, November 19, 2011
Cadogan Hall, London
Box office: 0207 730 4500
Online: www.cadoganhall.com

Sunday, November 20, 2011
Theatre Royal, Plymouth
Box office: 01752 230440
Online: www.theatreroyal.com

Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Margate    Winter Gardens, Margate
Box office: 01843 296111
Online: www.margatewintergardens.co.uk

Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Brighton Dome, Brighton
Box office: 01273 709709
Online: www.brightondome.org

Friday, November 25, 2011
Malvern Forum Theatre, Malvern
Box office: 01684 892277
Online: www.malvern-theatres.co.uk

Saturday, November 26, 2011
Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
Box office: 0151 666 0000
Online: www.floralpavilion.com

Sunday, November 27, 2011
St. George's Hall, Bradford
Box office: 01274 432 000
Online: www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Corn Exchange, Cambridge
Box office: 01223 357851
Online: www.cornex.co.uk/ccm/portal

Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
Box office: 01702 351135
Online: www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk

Thursday, December 1, 2011
Ipswich Regent, Ipswich
Box office: 01473 433100
Online: www.ipswichregent.com

Friday, December 2, 2011
Watford Colosseum, Watford
Box office: 0845 0753993
Online: www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

With Mary Wilson, of the original Supremes
By Joanne Roberts
Oct 24 2011

Legendary bass guitarist Bill Wyman and his blues-rock band the Rhythm Kings played to a packed house at Venue Cymru Llandudno on Saturday night.

The band was founded by former Rolling Stones' bass guitarist Bill Wyman, and together with his lifelong musical partner Terry Taylor, the pair produce, arrange and compose original material for this award winning band.

As well as Bill and Terry, the band includes Georgie Fame, Albert Lee, Beverley Skeete, Geraint Watkins, Graham Broad, Frank Mead and Nick Payn and they are always joined by a guest star, this time around the guest was none other than Mary Wilson, of the original Supremes.

Ms Wilson got everyone clapping along as she belted out her old hits, such as Baby Love, and Stop! In the Name of Love. She looked amazing, there’s not many women who can get away with wearing skin tight lycra leggings at 67 years old and still look great.

It was definitely ladies night, because as far as I’m concerned, Beverley Skeete stole the show with her outstanding voice, she put in a brilliant performance with a combination of blues, jazz and soul hits.

Georgie Fame does most of the introductions and his voice and musical talent haven’t diminished over the years, he’s still as good as he was back in the 60’s.

I love the saxophone and the two guys, Nick Payn and Frank Mead, delivered some great solo performances albeit accompanied by some pretty dodgy dance moves.

Worthy of mention also is South Walian born Geraint Watkins, a rock and roll pianist who has played with such greats as Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler and Paul McCartney, as well as being a brilliant keyboard player, he has a pretty good voice and also displayed a cheeky sense of humour.

All in all, each and every one of the band members are truly talented musicians, whether your preference is jazz, blues, soul or just good musical entertainment, you are certain to enjoy a night in the company of Bill Wyman and His Rhythm Kings.

Voodoo Chile in Wonderland wrote on Oct 23^rd, 2011 at 6:46pm:


OK, well London is pretty big! So is anybody from Rocks Off going to these UK shows? We need a review! Come on Stray Cat UK, Honky Tonk Man, Ade, Stewed & Keefed, & Gazza ~ represent!

Gazza wrote on Oct 31^st, 2011 at 11:54am:

Gazza,it's not like you haven't conquered big wet things before .

sweetcharmedlife wrote on Oct 31^st, 2011 at 12:19pm:




True dat. But I dont usually have to pay a few hundred quid just to get the chance!

by Jon Griffin, Birmingham Mail
Nov 9 2011
http://www.birminghammail.net

A WISE man once said that after Armageddon the only survivors would be the cockroaches and Keith Richards.

Maybe he got the wrong Stone, because Bill Wyman, at 75, shows little sign of decline. His Rhythm Kings, with the likes of Georgie Fame, former Everlys sidekick Albert Lee and ex-Supreme Mary Wilson, simply keep on rocking.

This was a glorious journey though nearly 100 years of great music, from 1920s jazz through to Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent, Motown, the Coasters, Howlin’ Wolf and others.

Bassman Wyman, who quit the Stones nearly 20 years ago, was as impassive as ever, while Rhythm Queen Beverley Skeete and saxmen Frank Mead and Nick Payn boast 64-carat gold stage presence.

The Creedence classic Green River and the Stones’ Honky Tonk Women got the five-star rhythm treatment while Dancing In The Street sent everybody home with a broad grin.