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MARCUS FOSTER Thursday 11th March (Buy Tickets) MARCUS FOSTER is a London born musician, singer-songwriter. Marcus studies sculpture at the renowned Royal College of Art. He grew up listening to Tom Waits, Bob Dylan and Sister Rosetta Tharp, giving him a raw, honest and timeless sound. Marcus co-wrote the song, 'Let Me Sign' for the Summit Entertainment motion picture 'TWILIGHT' (directed by Catherine Hardewick) that is performed by Robert Pattinson. Another songs performed by Marcus himself, 'Make It Easy' featured in the film Five Dollars a Day (directed by Nigel Cole). The film premiered at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival to great reviews, scheduled release in 2010. Marcus is currently playing live dates in the UK, Europe and the USA. To see this amazing artist in a beautiful setting, book your tickets now: Doors 6.30pm | Show 9pm Tickets: £45 Dinner + Show* £15 Show Seated £10 Show Standing *We ask Diners to arrive before 7.30pm for this show. Reservations: 0800 988 5470 | reservations@vpmg.net See Tickets: 0871 230 0010 | www.seetickets.com Tickets can also be purchased from The Pigalle Club Mon-Sat 10am-6pm Marcus Foster website Back to Top |
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THE TASSEL CLUB Friday 12th March The Tassel Club at The Pigalle Club A night of classic burlesque, circus, comedy and cabaret “The Tassel Club is a return to the old fashioned 1940’s style film noir and cabaret, where what you don’t see is often as exciting as what you do see”The Irish Times One of the sexiest events to hit London’s cabaret scene is now well and truly established in teh West End. The venue is London’s hot, plush cabaret spot The Pigalle Club in Piccadilly and the event is The Tassel Club, one of the leading alternative cabaret companies in Europe. Friday nights have changed forever as The Tassel Club crew bring their unique brand of decadence to this aptly named & perfectly styled venue every week. “The Tassel Club is an elegant and erotic extravaganza - a cornucopia of carnal class!!”The Event Guide “Naughty but nice”Sunday Independent Don’t be surprised if you’re rubbing shoulders with the stars as both The Tassel Club & The Pigalle Club boast an enviable list of celebrity fans including Colin Farrell, Christian Slater and burlesque super star Ms Dita Von Teese. Expect live music, comedy & classic burlesque with a dash of circus and magic, making this an all round knock out show. The audience can dress up and join in the fun, so dust off your fedora & spats and ruffle those feathers as The Tassel Club comes to town! Tickets: £55 including 3-course dinner £20 show partially seated Doors: 6.30pm Show: 8.30pm Vintage inspired DJ's take over the reigns at 11pm and take you right through to 3am. *also taking place: Feb 12, 19, 26. Mar 5, 12, 19, 26 Tickets available now from: Reservations: 0800 988 5470 | reservations@vpmg.net See Tickets: 0871 230 0010 | www.seetickets.com "Burlesque is at the forefront of a new wave of cabaret that is replacing nightclubbing for both women and men as their first choice for a night out" Style magazine Sunday Times The Tassel Club website Back to Top |
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CONGO FAITH HEALERS Saturday 13th March (Buy Tickets) Specialising in swamp infested gypsy blues, Congo Faith Healers are like nothing you have heard or experienced before. Combining down and dirty grooves with hooks that you will be singing for days they have one of the most intense and utterly compelling live shows around. Falling somewhere between Tom Waits, Led Zepplin and something straight out of a Tarrantino movie they have been blazing a trail across the land to unprecedented reviews. CFH are that truly unique beast: a band that blend their collective influences to create something totally fresh and exhilarating. With a drummer hailing from the Congo, double bass from Croatia, guitar from Paris and a singer/songwriter a wandering poet from some undisclosed continent the band are as culturally diverse as the music they make. Doors 6.30pm | Congo Faith Healers 9pm £45 Dinner and Show £10 Show only Reservations: 0800 988 5470 ¦ reservations@vpmg.net See Tickets: 0870 166 0424 ¦ www.seetickets.com Tickets can be also purchased at The Pigalle Club between 10am – 6pm, Mon – Sat. The Congo Faith Healers Back to Top |
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FABULOUS BOOGIE BOYS Saturday 20th March We regret to announce that due to unforeseen circumstances, Laura B and The Moonlighters are unable to perform at The Pigalle Club on Saturday 28th November. Instead, The Fabulous Boogie Boys are stepping in to provide your entertainment for the night. The Fabulous Boogie Boys have been performing around the world for over ten years. They are a five-piece soul and rock'n'roll band playing classic numbers to make any party go with a swing. The band aim to spread their love of great live boogie, jive, hop, jazz, soul and blues to audiences throughout the UK. Dressed in 1950's dinner attire, and using period instruments, the band delivers foot stomping hits from the 1930's to the present; all in their own unique and outgoing style. Doors 6:30pm, Onstage 9pm £50 Dinner and Show £15 Show Standing Reservations: 0800 988 5470 | reservations@vpmg.net See Tickets: 0871 230 0010 | www.seetickets.com Fabulous Boogie Boys Website Back to Top |
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THE JIVE ACES Saturday 27th March (Buy Tickets) Saturday 27th March (Buy Tickets) The Jive Aces are one of the hardest-working bands in show business today, performing over 300 shows a year in so far over 25 different countries. They have appeared on literally hundreds of TV and radio shows all over the world. A group of lads from London were drawn together by their love for a style and music that outclassed anything around. The music was hot jive that had the beat, energy and enthusiasm of rock 'n' roll and the fun and rhythm of big band swing all rolled into one. The Jive Aces' unique sound comes from a combination of their own original tunes in true swing style as well as fresh arrangements of songs from the swing era. Classics made famous by such greats as Louis Prima (Just a Gigolo), Louis Jordan (Five Guys Named Mo), Cab Calloway (Minnie the Moocher), Count Basie, Benny Goodman and Louis Armstrong. Carrying on this fabulous evening are London’s finest Flappers: The Bee’s Knees. Jet Powered disc kittens taking you through until 3am! Specialising in swingin’ tunes from the Golden Age of Dance, Spanning the Naughty Twenties to Roaring Noughties! Doors open 6:30pm | Show 9pm Dinner and Show: £45 / £50 (Dec) Show Standing: £10 / £15 (Dec) Reservations: 0800 988 5470 | reservations@vpmg.net See Tickets: 0871 230 0010 | www.seetickets.com Tickets can also be purchased from The Pigalle Club: Mon-Sat 10am-6pm www.jiveaces.com Back to Top |
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MICA PARIS Monday 29th March MICA PARIS Soul Queen. Legendary vocalist. Author. Television Presenter. Actress. Mother. Survivor. Ms. Mica Paris The UK’s Soul Queen is back to her first passion: music. 2009 saw the British star releasing her first original studio album in ten years. She also embarked on a nationwide tour meeting fans old and new and reminding her millions of TV fans what first put her in the public eye twenty- two years ago. Mica’s new album, entitled ‘Born Again’. The album was released in Summer 2009 and was produced by the legendary ‘hit- maker’, Brian Rawling. Rawling, whose recent single ‘Broken Strings’ for James Morrison and Nelly Furtado was number one worldwide. The aforementioned James Morrison wrote Mica’s first single off the album, released Summer 2009, ‘Baby Come Back Now’ – an up- tempo retro tune, that Morrison penned especially for Mica’s soaring vocals. Mica is set to launch into 2010 in the best possible way with a new single, ‘Born Again’ (the title track from her highly acclaimed album), and a string of intimate shows showcasing her amazing vocal dexterity and funky band. Mica Paris's roots are in soul and gospel music. She grew up singing in her grandparents' church and by her mid teens was making regular appearances with 'The Spirit of Watts' gospel choir. She was soon noticed as a distinctive voice and at seventeen got her first break as a backing vocalist with the UK chart band 'Hollywood Beyond'. The range, power, and sheer soulfulness of her singing made a major impact on the UK scene and in the following year, 1988, she released her debut, platinum-selling album, So Good, from which she had her first top ten hit with 'You Are My One Temptation'. This led to a collaboration with American soul singer, Will Downing, on a cover version of 'Where Is The Love', a song made famous by Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack in the early '70s. In 1991, Mica's second album, Contribution, was released. This extended Mica's soul and gospel influences to bring in hip-hop and house music and included a track written especially for Mica by Prince, which she recorded at his Paisley Park studios. Her third album, Whisper a Prayer (1993), marked another departure for Mica, fusing soul, jazz and blues with lush string arrangements. Garnering further top twenty singles ‘ Never Felt Like This Before and ‘ Wanna Hold On To You’. Mica then decided to take a break from recording and turned to the stage, where she starred in two acclaimed West End shows, 'Mama I Want to Sing' and 'Sweet Lorraine'. In 1997 she returned to the studio to record and produce her fourth album, Black Angel, which produced two more top twenty singles ‘Stay’ and ‘Carefree’ and in 2001, another collaboration, this time with Dave Gilmore and Jools Holland on Screamin' Jay Hawkins' classic track, 'I Put A Spell On You', once again topped the charts. In 2002 Mica extended her talents into broadcasting. She presented two shows for television: a documentary tracing the influence of gospel on American popular music, 'The Gospel of Gospel', for Lion Television and Channel 4, which featured interviews with legendary artists Ray Charles, BB King, Al Green, Issac Hayes and Chaka Khan; and Channel 4's 'Gospel Singer of the Year' competition. She also began hosting her own radio show, 'Soul Solutions', on BBC Radio 2. With an average of a million listeners, it became the most successful soul and R&B show in the UK. Early 2003 she played to a sell-out crowd at London's Jazz Café, and broadcast a two-part show, 'Purple Reign: The Prince Story', on BBC Radio 2 which covered the entirety of the American artist's controversial career and featured interviews with George Clinton, Chaka Khan and Jimmy Jam. Autumn of 2003 saw Mica being presented with the Gold Badge Award by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters for her special contribution to the British entertainment industry. In 2004 Mica was in the top 10 list of the 100 Great Black Britons which was compiled to celebrate the achievements and contributions made by the British Black community over the centuries. In the Autumn Mica returned to the studio recorded a duet with Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes which will be the first single to be released from his best of Album which features duets with other artists such as Lenny Kravitz and Tina Turner. In October of 2004 Mica toured around the UK as the main character in the theater production, The Vagina Monologues. Towards the end of the year, Mica started recording her new soul album based on her famous Radio 2 Soul show, Soul Solutions and then jetted off to Australia for a few months to do some live performances at the Basement in Sydney. Upon her return, Mica began a sell- out residency at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club and began what would be two seasons of the BBC 1 show ‘What Not To Wear’. Her time on the show created record- breaking ratings. Other television presenting has followed with Mica being and expert judge on Gok Wan’s ‘Miss Naked Beauty 2008’ for Channel 4 and ITV’s ‘CelebAir’ While presenting ‘What Not To Wear’, Mica encountered many women whose stories touched her. She began to examine her own life and choices and was compelled to tell her story in a bid to inspire confidence and self- esteem to those woman and others that find life overwhelming at times. Thus her book ‘Beautiful Within’ was born. Published by Simon and Schuster the book was an instant hit. The paperback was released August 2008. Doors 6:30pm | Show 9pm Dinner and Show: £55 Show Standing: £20 Reservations: 0800 988 5470 | reservations@vpmg.net See Tickets: 0871 230 0010 | www.seetickets.com Tickets can also be purchased from The Pigalle Club Mon-Sat 10am-6pm Back to Top |
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LENNY BEIGE THEMED NIGHTS-A TRIBUTE TO PRINCE Wednesday 31st March (Buy Tickets) It was Shirley Bassey that gave Lenny Beige his big break in the business 30 years ago at the Frinton Wintergardens. However, it is really only in the past few years that he has become something of a household name beyond the East Anglian Riviera. His now infamous club The Regency Rooms in London’s West End began life in 1995 and sold out every one of its 10 seasons attracting ‘a well heeled and beautiful clientele’ (SUNDAY TIMES), Beige became a big cult hit and started appearing regularly on Channel 5’s Night Fever and TV chatshows. Over the five years of The Regency Rooms club Lenny built up a huge following, especially with celebrity clientele many of whom have performed alongside him; Robbie Williams, All Saints, Gail Porter, Davina McCall, Leo Sayer, Lionel Blair, Right Said Fred, Martin Fry, Terry Wogan, Adam Ant and Jamie Theakston to name but a small fraction. Some of those who did comic turns included Matt Lucas and David Walliams, Sacha Baron Cohen, Armstrong and Miller, John Thomson and many more. He has just completed a sold out run at the Pigalle Club in Piccadilly with a Tribute to Anthony Newley that garnered rave reviews. In 1997 he began the first of his one-man shows ‘One Man and His Talent’ which has sold out at the Edinburgh Festival for three years as well as his ‘Lunch with Lenny’ live chat show and he has toured the UK as well as a season at The Criterion Theatre. He also hosted and wrote two series of Lenny Beige’s Variety Pack for the BBC which saw special guest acts that included Terry Wogan, Davina McCall, Tony Hadley and Chas n Dave. He is also a much sought after award ceremony host and has presented The London Club and Bar Awards for the last four years. He has recently been selling out the prestigious Pigalle Club on Piccadilly. Lenny has two children and a wife who never talks to him. Press Quotes ‘His energy levels are huge, his timing is masterful, he sings, dances, plays the violin and guitar and works harder than any other comic you’ll see.’ Sunday Times ‘Lenny Beige is a hyper-confident delight…..what more could you want from an all round-entertainer?’ The Glasgow Herald ‘He is also a wordsmith of some talent, firing off rapid one-liners that make your eyes boggle at their left-field vision. He demands the audiences attention and deservedly gets it.’ The Scotsman ‘Shiny as polished gold’ The List ‘Lenny Beige is the new Tarby. If Tarby could sing, and was funny that is.’ Esquire Magazine ‘Roll over Alan Partridge and tell Mike Flowers the news. A new star has risen in the West End.’ The Evening Standard’ ‘The future’s bright, the future’s Beige’ Time Out ‘97 ‘A walking showcase of multi-talent.’ Time Out ‘98 ‘Never in comedy has such a talent been the best friend to so many stars’ Front Magazine ‘The foremost light entertainer in London.’ ES Magazine ‘You won’t enjoy a better night out’ The Sun ‘This show is hilarious’ The Observer Artist Website Back to Top |
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SCHWING Saturday 10th April Schwing is a sensational 6 piece ‘big band’ and thrilling theatre show all in one. The show blends the truly exciting sound of the classics and standards from the swing era with swing style arrangements of more contemporary rock and pop classics. The band is led by captivating pianist and vocalist Anthony Kinsey. With the contemporary style and sophistication of Harry Connick Jr, the charisma of Jamie Cullum and the vocal talents of Michael Buble, bandleader Anthony is the real deal. The band is made up of Anthony on piano and vocals, the rhythm section of double bass, drums and guitar keep the time while 5 horns make up the front line. Expect to click your fingers, clap your hands and stomp your feet to classics such as Recipe For Love, We Are In Love, Bare Necessities, I Wanna Be Like You, Jump Jive & Wail, Big Time Operator, Come Fly With Me, Mack The Knife, Kick In The Head, That’s Amore, Volare and Lady Is A Tramp. Swing versions of classics such as Sweetest Feeling by Jackie Wilson Could It Be Magic by Barry Manilow/Take That, How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You by James Taylor, It’s Still Rock & Roll To Me by Billy Joel Going Underground by The Jam and I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight by Bob Dylan make this show one to remember. Doors 7pm £15 General Admission £50 Dinner and Show Reservations: 0800 988 5470 | reservations@vpmg.net See Tickets: 0871 230 0010 | www.seetickets.com Tickets can also be purchased in the Pigalle Club foyer: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm (cash only) General Info: 0207 644 1420 Schwing's Website Back to Top |
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JARVIS CHURCH Thursday 15th April Special K Promotions presents: JARVIS CHURCH The Grammy nominated canadian soul singer 'Jarvis Church' performing top ten hits from his 15 year career, in addition to songs from his 2009 album 'The Long Way Home'. As well being one half of the Grammy nominated production duo Track and Field. Jarvis Church (Track) and Brian West (Field) burst onto the production scene with their Grammy nominated debut album Whoa Nelly for Nelly Furtado in 2001. Since then they have worked with a varity of artist including Tina Turner, Ricky martin and Esthero. This is his only UK date this year - not to be missed! Performing alongside one of London's most exciting funk bands 'Johnny and the Mets' who boost a record 12-monthly residencies at London's top venues. The event kicks-off with the melodic songs and arresting harmonies from the hot-tipped, pop/rock outfit 'Love Revue' performing songs from their new album. Presented by Special K Promotion's very-own Kevin Easton! Special guests: Love Revue and Johnny & the Mets. Doors: 7.30pm Tickets: £15.00 (more on the door) Please note this is a standing show Jarvis Church website Back to Top |
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THE MAGIC NUMBERS Thursday 22nd April The Magic Numbers ON-SALE 9am Friday March 5th. A fully standing show. Tickets: £15.00. www.seetickets.com www.stargreen.com & The Pigalle - 0800 988 5470 Over 18's. ID required The Magic Numbers The band are in the midst of recording their third studio album, their first in over three years and planned for release in 2010. They are taking a break in recording to do this show in order to “work the new songs in on the road and say ‘Hi’ again to our fans, we’ve missed them!” said bass player Michele Stodart. Romeo Stodart says “We’ve been writing and recording lots over the last year but before we go back in to finish the album, we want to share where we are at in the process. And to provide a sense of where we are headed, we’re going to give everyone who wants one, a free MP3 of one of the new songs that we’ve just finished called “Hurt So Good “ to see what they think”. You can download it free at themagicnumbers.net “We’ve written a lot of songs for our next album, too many to record, so we going to play them, along with songs everyone already knows of course, to see how they feel in front of an audience” says singer Angela Gannon, “in our experience they always get better that way”. Drummer Sean Gannon adds “We’ve also wrote a new song especially for the movie soundtrack of “Twilight New Moon” with the blind Malian superstars Amadou and Mariam, called “All I Believe In” that you can see on youtube. It will be on the deluxe version of the soundtrack album, as well as the bands new album. The album is being produced by Valgeir Sigurdsson (Bjork, Bonnie Prince Billie, Sigur Ros, Maps, Coco Rosie, etc) and mixed by Ben Hillier (Doves, Blur, Depeche Mode etc). It also features the last work of Nick Drake’s arranger Robert Kirby before he died. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magic_Numbers Back to Top |
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BASIA Monday 3rd May (Buy Tickets) Basia is emerging with her strongest work yet, It’s That Girl Again, an album that brings her trademark global pop/jazz sound into today. From the first track “If Not Now Then When” —the bouncing melody, soaring horns, and the feeling that you’ve landed in a small fiesta—it’s as though she has never been away. Basia and her collaborator Danny White have always drawn from timeless influences: the rhythms and styles of Latin music, the sound of classic American soul and R&B, and the polish of ’50s and ’60s jazz; yet the sound is undeniably fresh. There is nothing about this album that is stuck in the past, rather it presses forward, building upon their many accomplishments during the course of their career. Poland-native Basia Trzetrzelewska was introduced as a vocalist with the group Matt Bianco and hits “Get Out of Your Lazy Bed,” “More Than I Can Bear” and “Half A Minute.” She and the group’s main composer, keyboardist Danny White, departed to begin work on their debut, Time and Tide. The album was successful throughout Europe and Japan, but it took some adventurous D.J.s to import the album to a new radio audience stateside. The buzz led to Time and Tide’s official US release and three Adult Contemporary hits there (“Promises,” “New Day For You,” “Time and Tide”). Basia proved unique, defying categories and appealing to a wide audience. This versatility earned her two consecutive number one Billboard Contemporary Jazz albums upon the release of the follow-up, London Warsaw New York, which topped that chart for most of 1990. A second tour full of sold-out marquees followed, pushed by the breakout success of the single “Cruising For Bruising,” and resulting in a second platinum record. A more vivid portrait of the artists emerged with 1994’s The Sweetest Illusion as a more organic sound was developed, with a full band and a deeper variety of musical texture. Once again their appeal continued across genre lines as “Drunk On Love” became a #1 Billboard Club Play hit while The Sweetest Illusion rode the pop album chart. The resulting world tour culminated in a two-week run on Broadway, recorded for the live album Basia on Broadway. Danny, along with guitarist/vocalist Mark Reilly, pulled Basia back into the fray to recast their early sound for the 2004 Matt Bianco album Matt’s Mood. The collaboration combined pop, swing, Latin, lounge and spy-soundtrack sounds to great effect, and when on tour they were met with enthusiastic response from a loyal, dedicated fan base thrilled to see Basia back in action. The encouraging reaction gave birth to a fruitful creative period leading up to It’s That Girl Again. The songs on It’s That Girl Again reprise Basia’s global pop sound, fusing stick-in-your-head-for-days melodies with complex arrangements that don’t overshadow the heartfelt lyrics or stunning instrumentation. Each song is a dedication to someone in Basia’s life, though her narratives describe characters many can relate to. The musical backing is inspired and inventive, taking the listener to surprising places. “If Not Now Then When” is the perfect reintroduction to the Basia sound, with an irresistible melody, romantic lyrics and lively percussion. “Someone for Everyone” sees Danny pulling out all the stops with piano, gospel-tinged organ and keyboard. “Everybody’s On The Move” jets in with an upbeat rock feel while “Tear in My Eye” is a plaintive ballad recalling Stevie Wonder’s 80s love songs. Intensity reigns in the sharp tango of “Love Lies Bleeding” and within the stunning “I Must” as a measured verse surprisingly explodes into a chorus out of a Bond film chase scene. “Blame It On The Summer” is an ideal warm-weather chill-out track, leading nicely into the evocative “It’s That Girl Again.” “Two Islands” takes an ethereal turn, with multilayered vocals giving way to an island feel that counters the tender subject matter. The lighthearted “Winners” brings to mind the joy of Carnaval, and the smooth polish of “They Know Nothing About Us” highlights Basia’s emphatic lyric. 1998’s “Clear Horizon” is reimagined as near-acoustic, and “Amelki Śmiech” celebrates new life with a raucous party scene and buoyant heart that defies language. Joining Basia and Danny is a tight band of accomplished musicians including guitarist Peter White, trumpeter Kevin Robinson (Simply Red, Incognito) and drummer Mark Parnell (Joan Armatrading, Damian Rice). In this age of highly processed and compressed vocals, It’s That Girl Again reminds us what it’s like to hear honest, straightforward singing with genuine feeling again. From the first strum of the guitar to the last cheer from the crowd, the album is a great showing from an established artist firmly planted in the here-and-now. Those long- frustrated by the current state of pop music are craving something original and real. Just in time comes Basia and It’s That Girl Again. Doors 6.30pm | Show 9pm £60 Dinner and Show | £25 Show Standing Reservations: 0800 988 5470 | reservations@vpmg.net See Tickets: 0871 230 0010 | www.seetickets.com Tickets can also be purchased in the Pigalle Club Mon-Sat 10am-6pm General Info: 0207 644 1420 Artists myspace Back to Top |
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EARL THOMAS & THE KINGS OF RHYTHM Saturday 8th May (Buy Tickets) Earl Thomas & the Kings of Rhythm Biography In 1971, an 11-year-old Earl Thomas became the lead singer of the Kings Of Rhythm, famed backing band formed by legendary musician and bandleader Ike Turner. The only trouble was, the band did not find out until 2008. It was in a small theatre on the island of Guam where Earl’s father had brought his son to see the movie Soul To Soul. A career naval officer and amateur musician, he wanted to impress an appreciation of soul music on his young boy. During the opening credits, Ike and Tina Turner appear with the (original) Kings of Rhythm performing the movie’s theme song of the same name and it was at that moment, the young Earl turned to his father and said, “Daddy, that’s what I’m gonna be when I grow up. I’m gonna be a singer in a band!” Apparently a father’s gentle nudge had turned into a shove. And, from that moment on, Earl lived the idea that he fronted the band. He pretended that he was the lead singer of the band. The family living room was turned into an imaginary stage where, everyday after school, the couch became the drummer, lamps were the horn section, a shelf the bass, an end table was the guitarist, and right in the middle was Earl, with his dinner candle microphone channeling Ike & Tina Turner. “All I knew was that I wanted to do what I saw those people doing on the screen,” remembers Thomas. “I didn’t know anything about the music business. It just looked like everyone was having such a good time.” And Earl Thomas did become “a singer in a band” and since his world stage debut at Switzerland’s renowned Montreux Jazz Festival, he has enjoyed a successful recording career with 12 records to his credit, has toured extensively throughout Europe and America, has had several songs in feature films and major television shows, and has written songs for legends, Etta James, Solomon Burke and Tom Jones. But Earl was not satisfied. One day, movie producer David Peck asked him to perform a small part in an indie movie remake he was working on. Negotiations dragged on until they came to a tentative agreement. Only then did the producer mention that the movie he was remaking was Soul To Soul for DVD release and Earl would be singing an updated version of the movie theme song to be played over the closing credits; the song Ike & Tina perform in the opening scene from the movie that had changed the course of his life. And not only was he going to perform the part he had mimicked for three decades, he would also get to meet Ike Turner. They met in 2004 at the movie premier in Hollywood. Ike was impressed with Earl’s vast knowledge of his and Tina’s work from the ‘70s and came to quickly respect Earl’s innate ability to sing their songs with such precision, so much so, that he agreed to wrote the liner notes for Intersection, Earl’s 2005 Memphis International Records release and donated “Working Together” a song he penned in 1971. Earl remained in contact with Ike and some of the Kings of Rhythm band ever since. On December 12, 2007 looking to put together a band for an upcoming date, Earl decided to take a shot and call the Kings of Rhythm to see if they might be free. As he was making the call on his landline, a text came in on his cell phone from the Kings guitarist. Ike Turner had just died. While a sad moment in all their lives, it was also pivotal as it allowed Earl to work with The Kings Of Rhythm throughout 2008 and record a new CD entitled Earl Thomas & The Kings Of Rhythm Live At Biscuits & Blues an homage to the early Ike & Tina Turner live records. Seth Blumberg, the Kings of Rhythm guitarist, suggested that Ike had actually “willed the bill” of lead singer to Earl because for about a month prior to Ike’s death, they had spent every day working on a “particular” guitar riff. When he question his bandleader as to why they were going over the same part for hours on end, Ike just responded that the riff is called “Working Together” and they needed to keep playing it. Seth believed it was a message that Ike once delivered a song to Earl, and now it was time to cede the band to his heir apparent. No longer the furniture in the living room, this Grammy Award winning band makes their European debut and begins a full tour schedule in 2010, kicking off in London. Earl Thomas is the singer in the band. It just took him 37 years to do it. Doors 6.30pm | Show 9pm £50 Dinner and Show | £15 Show Standing Reservations: 0800 988 5470 | reservations@vpmg.net See Tickets: 0871 230 0010 | www.seetickets.com Tickets can also be purchased in the Pigalle Club Mon-Sat 10am-6pm General Info: 0207 644 1420 Artists myspace Back to Top |
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NEARLY DAN (CELEBRATING 3 DECADES OF STEELY DAN) Thursday 20th May (Buy Tickets) Celebrating 3 decades of STEELY DAN. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker have created some of the most influential music of the pop era. Inspired arrangements and witty, often biting, lyrics combine to make this some of the most distinctive music ever to grace the turntable, with hits such as Reelin’ in the Years, Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Deacon Blues, Peg, Babylon Sisters, and Hey Nineteen, culled from their seven platinum albums issued between 1972 and 1980. They reunited in the early 90s and toured throughout the decade, releasing multi-Grammy winner Two Against Nature in 2000 and its acclaimed follow-up Everything Must Go in 2003. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Formed in 1997, the ten-strong Nearly Dan promise all the Steely Dan favourites in a two hour-plus show, featuring tracks from the groove of Countdown to Ecstasy to the super cool of celebrated albums The Royal Scam and Gaucho. Set lists may also sample from Fagen’s Nightfly. Nearly Dan have toured constantly for 10 years, gaining critical acclaim for their performances in the UK and Europe. They will showcase selections from Steely Dan’s extraordinary three-decade plus catalogue. 2009 also represents the 32nd anniversary of the classic album Aja. Concertgoers can expect a hefty draft of this inimitable masterpiece. Doors 6.30pm | Show 9pm £55 Dinner and Show | £20 Show Standing Reservations: 0800 988 5470 | reservations@vpmg.net See Tickets: 0871 230 0010 | www.seetickets.com Tickets can also be purchased in the Pigalle Club Mon-Sat 10am-6pm General Info: 0207 644 1420 Website Back to Top |
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THE RAY GELATO GIANTS Saturday 22nd May (Buy Tickets) Ray Gelato, the undisputed World Heavyweight Champion of Swing, entertainer to the stars, vocalist and saxophonist of the first degree is back for one very special night at the The Pigalle Club. Described as a cross between Louis Prima, Dean Martin and Sam Butera with a hint of De Niro, Ray is a true international star. His energetic jazzy vocals, acclaimed tenor sax playing and swingin’ six-piece ‘Giants’ have caused a sensation around the globe. Choice of the stars, Ray and his band have attracted some notably high-profile fans including Bryan Adams, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Richard Branson and Her Majesty the Queen, for whom Ray and his band have performed twice at her request. When he was asked to perform at the 2004 BBC Proms in the Park in front of an excited audience of 40,000 in Hyde Park, London alongside The Corrs and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Ray Gelato firmly established himself as the ‘King of Swing’. Ray and his powerful seven piece ‘Giants Orchestra’ now have one of the most entertaining, energetic and swinging shows on the live music circuit today. “Nobody else dares treat British jazz audiences with such blatant showmanship.” London Evening Standard “Taking swing to the masses….sheer fun and enjoyment” The Times “On the big stages of the summer’s outdoor festival circuit, the boundless energy of Ray Gelato makes the band one of the most popular in Europe” Alyn Shipton, The Times “..arguably the only British jazz group with a proper stage show” Jack Massarik, The Evening Standard Doors 6.30pm | Show 9pm £55 Dinner and Show | £20 Show Standing Reservations: 0800 988 5470 | reservations@vpmg.net See Tickets: 0871 230 0010 | www.seetickets.com Tickets can also be purchased in the Pigalle Club Mon-Sat 10am-6pm General Info: 0207 644 1420 Ray Gelato website Back to Top |
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