By Martin Hutchinson
The Rolling Stones No Filter tour is in the UK and Ireland this summer, with more shows in Germany, France, the Czech Republic, and Poland.
They play 13 shows in 12 venues across Europe in September and October.
STONES – NO FILTER has Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood out on the road again.
The tour starts on May 17 in Dublin and ends on July 8 in Warsaw. This is their first official tour of the UK for 12 years. Mick Jagger said: “We are looking forward to getting back on stage. It’s always exhilarating going to cities we haven’t played for quite a while, and also some new venues, like Old Trafford and The London Stadium
Tour dates:
May 17 Dublin, Croke Park
May 22 London Stadium
June 5 Manchester, Old
Trafford Football Stadium
June 9 Edinburgh, @ BT
Murrayfield Stadium
June 15 Cardiff, Principality Stadium
June 22 Berlin, Germany
Olympic Stadium
June 26 Marseille, France Orange Velodrome
June 30 Stuttgart, Germany Mercedes Benz Arena
July 4 Prague, Czech Republic. Letnany Airport
July 8 Warsaw, Poland National Stadium
Bacharach is back in town
Burt Bacharach is at London’s Royal Festival Hall on July 6 and 7, and he has a new date at the Brighton Dome on Monday, July 9. Bacharach aged 89, will play some of his greatest and most notable hits, including Alfie, Anyone Who Had A Heart, The Look Of Love, That’s What Friends Are For, and I Say A Little Prayer.
During six decades, achieving eight Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards, and an incredible 48 Top 10 songs, the prolific Burt Bacharach has well and truly earned the title of ‘The Hit Maker’. His songs sound as fresh today as when they were written for legendary artists, such as Dusty Springfield, Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin.
Bacharach’s global audiences span several generations, and he is viewed as the unique combination of one of the greatest composers of all time and the ultra-cool cult hero of the contemporary music set. His sold-out performance in London in 2016 was noted for ‘fans standing and cheering’.
As he approaches this new decade with all the vim and vigour with which he created all of his wonderful songs, and awarded many outstanding accolades, Burt will treat UK audiences to performances of his remarkable songbook– with a couple of surprises thrown in.
Tickets: £70, £52, £47.50
Nils ups his score with a UK tour
Guitar virtuoso Nils Lofgren returns to the UK in May for a short acoustic tour, celebrating 50 years on the road.
As a soloist, and band member of Grin, Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band, Nils first came to prominence in the late sixties and early seventies while still in his teens. Speaking at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he has lived with his wife Amy for over two decades, Nils tells me how it all began.
“Well, I actually started out on the accordion when I was six years old and I studied classical accordion for nine years. But then, thanks to The Beatles, Stones, Motown and the Blues greats, I picked up the guitar as a hobby; and after I saw Jimi Hendrix I knew I wanted to play guitar”.
“By the time I was 17, I hit the road with my band Grin, and I befriended Neil Young and I did a lot of work with him, and got to meet and hear the likes of Muddy Waters and BB King at a club called The Cellar Door in Washington DC.”
Nils was asked by Neil Young to play on the ‘After The Goldrush’ album and after four Grin albums, he ended up going solo as well as being in demand to work with other artists – especially Bruce Springsteen.
His solo albums have always been highly acclaimed, such as his debut ‘Nils Lofgren’ in 1975, ‘I Came To Dance’ in 1977, and ‘Damaged Goods’ in 1995. The Chicago-born musician, now 66, is hard-pressed to pick highlights of his illustrious career.
“Yeah, it’s hard to pick one highlight. You see, my favourite thing is to perform in front of people, and it’s great to be in a great band and not be the boss.”
“I loved being a part of Neil Young’s ‘After The Goldrush’ album, and I love playing with such brilliant guys like Neil, Bruce Springsteen and Ringo Starr.”
The demand for his services led to the gap since his last UK tour.
“It’s been three years since I was in the UK; it’s because I’ve been busy with The E Street Band and Bruce Springsteen, and I’ve just started a new solo recording.”
Also known for playing a vast array of guitars, when pushed Nils does have a favourite?
“That’s another tough question, but if I had to pick one, there is one that never leaves home. I was 18 years old and making the ‘After The Goldrush’ album. Neil wanted me to put some acoustic guitar on a couple of tracks like Tell Me Why and Till The Morning Comes.”
“The thing was, I didn’t have an acoustic guitar, so Neil lent me an old funky Martin D18 to play, and after the recording, he gave it to me, saying I did a great job.”
For the UK tour, Nils is planning a bit of a celebration.
Nils Lofgren returns to the UK in May.
“Well, first of all, it’s an acoustic tour. I’ll be coming over with my friend Greg Varlotta who has been coming to the UK with me for 10 years.
“I’ll be touching on the best of my 50-year career. I’ve hundreds of songs to choose from and we may take some requests to really make it a special night.”
So great is Nils’s back catalogue, his record company has issued a career retrospective that takes up ten CDs. And there also might be another surprise in store.
“Yeah. Greg also tap dances and plays the trumpet, and I’ve been taking tap lessons from him – so I may do a bit of that.”
Nils is really looking forward to the UK tour. I’m really excited to get back to Britain. One of the things we love about England is that we travel by bus and not planes. I’m looking forward to getting back to playing and singing. That’s my lifeblood.”
Nils Lofgren is at various venues during May.
Tour dates
May 14 G LIVE London Road
Guildford GU1 2AA
May 15 THE ANVIL Churchill Way Basingstoke RG21 7QR
May 16 TOWN HALL Victoria Square Birmingham B3 3DQ
May 17 PHILHARMONIC HALL Hope Street Liverpool
May 19 HARROGATE Harrogate HG1 2RD
May 20 QUEEN’S HALL 85-89 Clerk Street Edinburgh
May 21 THE SAGE St Mary’s Square, Gateshead Quays
May 22 BRIDGEWATER HALL Manchester M2 3WS
May 24 CORN EXCHANGE 2 Wheeler Street Cambridge
May 25 ASSEMBLY HALLCrescent Road Tunbridge Wells
May 26 FORUM Grange RoadMalvern WR14 3HB
May 28 BARBICAN Silk StreetLondon EC2Y 8DS
May 29 THEATRE ROYAL Theatre Street Norwich
May 30 ALBAN ARENA Civic Centre St Albans AL1 3LD
May 31 ST. DAVID’S HALL 9-11 The Hayes Cardiff