TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE VIA WE GOT TICKETS HERE, THE SHIRE HALL AND NOW AT DOVE HOUSE.
As well as the online ticket provision via We Got Tickets clicking on the links on this website.
Hard copy tickets will are now available via the Dove House Hospice shop, 33 Market Pl, Howden, DN14 7BL. Telephone 01430 431660
Tickets can also be purchased at: The Shire Hall, 11 Market Place, Howden, DN14 7BJ where online tickets can also be purchased.
All events are at the Shire Hall unless otherwise stated.
Telephone 01430 432510
Doors are 7.30 for 8pm
SATURDAY JUNE 3rd £14
& FIONA LEE
Following their barnstorming, sell out show last year it was only a matter of time before we got them back again…CODA – a Tribute to Led Zeppelin are Europe’s most authentic and exciting Led Zeppelin tribute band, replicating the power,excitement and magic of a Led Zeppelin show like no other. They are the only proper four-piece Zep tribute band in Europe that looks and sounds as close to the real thing as possible, featuring authentic-looking and sounding instruments as well as incredible, hand-made replica costumes that will take you back to the time when the Gods of Rock ruled the world!
THE AUTUMN SEASON
MARTIN TURNER ex WISHBONE ASH
SEPTEMBER 23rd £18
Martin Turner and his band return to the concert stages during 2023 to celebrate
the 50th anniversary of Wishbone Ash’s seminal double live album “Live Dates”
(1973).
Wishbone Ash was formed by West Country musicians Martin Turner and Steve
Upton, who arrived in London in 1969 to embark on their musical journey. Intent on
creating a musical sound that was rich in texture and melody, Martin Turner
envisaged the band’s innovative harmony-guitar hallmark and guitarists Ted Turner
and Andy Powell were recruited via a now legendary Melody Maker advert. The
partnership of the original line-up of Wishbone Ash forged a unique musical identity
that would produce some of rock music’s best loved works and influencing
numerous successful bands, resulting in millions of album sales and concert
attendances. Wishbone Ash would become one of the most enduring British rock
acts – its name synonymous with high quality guitar-driven melodic rock music.
Five decades later, the music of the classic line-ups of Wishbone Ash continues to
delight audiences worldwide through both live performances and a rich legacy of
recorded work that continues to be enjoyed by fans old and new. Classic album
releases such as Wishbone Ash, Argus, Pilgrimage, Wishbone Four, There’s the Rub,
New England and Live Dates defined the Wishbone Ash sound and have touched
the hearts of several generations of music fans. As lead vocalist, bassist and key
creative force, founding original member Martin Turner was central to the critical
and commercial success of Wishbone Ash’s most revered albums, with his
passionate vocal delivery, songwriting ability, keen melodic sense and production
values being major ingredients in the definitive Wishbone Ash sound. Martin Turner
continues to delight audiences with performances of the band’s best loved works
with his current line-up, which features guitarists Danny Willson and Misha Nikolic,
and drummer Sonny Flint.
The 2023 tour will see Martin and his band performing a show featuring music from
Live Dates as well as other Wishbone Ash classics. Capturing the original Wishbone
Ash line-up at its very best during the peak of its commercial success and featuring
epic tracks such as “The King Will Come”, “Warrior”, “Throw Down the Sword” and
“Phoenix”, Live Dates remains one of the most enduring and best loved double live
albums of the rock era. Martin Turner’s Live Dates 50th Anniversary Tour is an event
that no Wishbone Ash aficionado will want to miss.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29th £12.50
After nearly a decade, Ash JD Baker former Angus in “Livewire the AC/DC show” makes his long awaited return to the School uniform. Joining him, former band mate and incredible vocalist Gary John Jenkins will be reprising his role of Bon Scott, Recreating the sound and stage presence of AC/DC in the late 70’s. Alongside them enters Dave Parker on bass who has held down the thundering low end in AC/DC bands for the last decade. Citing both Cliff and Mark as major influences, he meticulously perfected their tone, musical approach, playing style and attack. Matthew Nixon on rhythm guitar bringing a young Malcolm back to life with a accurate take on his signature tone and playing style. Joining them is Drummer Al Cormell mastering the swing and groove of Phil Rudd and providing a huge wall of sound for the perfect backdrop! From High Voltage to Highway to hell, SIN CITY will take you on a journey through the years of AC/DC with Bon Scott.
THE BEAUTIFUL COUCH
SEPTEMBER 30th £20
A joint presentation between Howden Live and the Shire Hall.
Please note: Tickets are only available from the Shire Hall and the ticket link here, not We Got Tickets or Dove House.
Howden Live, in association with the Shire Hall are more pleased than a pleased thing to welcome back for a long overdue return The Beautiful Couch !
Emulating two of Hull’s most popular exports (apart from chip spice) The Beautiful South and The Housemartins. The Beautiful Couch first formed in 2002, playing all over the country. ‘The Couch’ built up a loyal following and a huge reputation in the tribute band world.
The Beautiful Couch will be performing all the hits from The Beautiful South and The Housemartins including the ones that you thought that you’d forgotten.
Performing around the UK to sell-out crowds for the last 20 years it’s now common knowledge that The Beautiful Couch are at the top of the tree, not ‘Sitting on a Fence’ when it comes down to recreating the magic of Hull’s finest. Playing venues such as Liverpool’s The Cavern, The Matthew Street Festival, the MKM Stadium, Manchester Bowlers Arena, they also supported Deacon Blue and The Commitments at Humberfest and of course TRIBFEST!
Guaranteed to be a great night and score a ‘Perfect 10’!
The Beautiful Couch are: Ed Faulkner, Jan Brumby, Johny Kramer, Adam Parrish, Antoine Robinson, and Pete Bartley.
TWO PIANOS
OCTOBER 7TH £15
Join the sensational David Barton and Al Kilvo, along with their top-class band as they battle it out to deliver the best rock ‘n’ roll piano experience audiences have seen. Feel the energy and witness the foot stomping performance of Two Pianos as they bring you to your feet and have you dancing in the aisles, singing hits from Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Elvis, Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, Everly Brothers and more!
“Two Pianos are truly awesome rockers!” — Jerry Lee Lewis
“Two of the hottest Rock ‘n’ Roll piano-pounders in the world” — The Yorkshire Times
“Highly recommended ”— Chas & Dave
“Dedicated rockers par excellence-top of our gig list.” — The Times
“There is enough talent and individuality in his act for him to make his mark nationally and not just for a year or three.” — The Stage
“So, it was non-stop electrifying Rock ’n’ Roll all the way except for a glorious interlude where they found themselves playing straight, snatches of everything from Beethoven to Rachmaninov, just for the hell of it, just because they could and seemingly wanted to playfully out-bravura each other.” — The Yorkshire Times
HEART OF GLASS
OCTOBER 21st £15
Following their resurrection last year and paying Howden Live the tremendous honour of playing their first stand alone return show in Howden it is a fantastic pleasure to welcome this superb band back to the Shire Hall for a record breaking 16th performance!!
Sell out performance after sell out performance are a measure of what you are in for with this very, very special show. HEART OF GLASS fronted by the delectable Denise Danielle described as “the closest to Debbie Harry yet!’” A cast iron guarantee of a superbly entertaining night out .
Heart of Glass are the foremost Blondie Tribute band in the UK. Lead singer Denise Danielle who has put together a stunning replication of a ‘Blondie’ show with all the favourite classics plus a lot more: Atomic, Maria, The Tide Is High, Hanging On The Telephone, Call Me, Denis, One Way Or Another, Sunday Girl and many, many more.
Denise prides herself on authenticity and does 6 costume changes during a show, each reflecting on the various songs. There is no finer exponent of the songs, style and raw energy of Deborah Harry and Blondie. This is like experiencing the real Blondie in 1978.
IAN McNABB
November 4th £16
Robert Ian McNabb was born in Liverpool on November 3rd 1960. An only child – the son of Patricia and Robert.
He first picked up a guitar at the age of 12 after seeing Marc Bolan on Top Of The Pops.
Ian joined his first band, Young World, at the age of 15 ; They played the working men’s club circuit for a couple of years before Ian joined another band City Lights. This band again gigged extensively around the North of England cabaret circuit, but Ian grew tired of playing other peoples songs and decided that cabaret was not the way forward for him. He had always written songs for fun but now he began to take it seriously.
In 1981 Ian formed The Icicle Works with Chris Sharrock (drums), and Chris Layhe (bass and vocals).
They quickly gained a following through their debut single release, Nirvana, and extensive live performances up and down the country.
The Icicle Works became part of the Liverpool renaissance movement of the eighties, alongside acts such as Echo And The Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, WAH!, Heat, OMD, Black, Dead Or Alive, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, The Lotus Eaters, and China Crisis.
They signed to Beggar’s Banquet records, and under the guidance of Martin Mills scored a top 20 hit with Love Is A Wonderful Colour in the U.K ; and top 40 placings in the U.S, Canada, and Europe with Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream), with their eponymous debut album.
The Icicle Works achieved top 40 placings in the UK for all four of their albums – The Icicle Works, The Small Price Of A Bicycle, If You Want To Defeat Your Enemy Sing His Songs, and Blind – until they split up in 1988.
Muff Winwood signed Ian to Epic records in 1989, paying a buy-out fee to Beggar’s Banquet; but Muff’s insistence on using The Icicle Works name, (with new musicians Roy Corkill and Zak Starkey) when the original band had ceased to be, caused friction, and after one disappointingly received album, Permanent Damage, Ian was dropped from Epic’s roster.
Ian began a collaboration with his friend and previous Icicle Works producer, Ian Broudie – a number of songs featured on subsequent Lightning Seeds records, which became hugely successful.
Ian signed to Andrew Lauder’s new imprint, This Way Up, in 1992, which yielded 3 albums : Truth And Beauty (which Ian had recorded at his own expense by remortgaging his house), Head Like A Rock, which was recorded in part with Neil Young’s band Crazy Horse in L.A and subsequently nominated for a Mercury Music Prize in 1994, and Merseybeast – the latter 2 albums achieved top 30 placings; the first was heralded as “One of the best records released in Q magazine’s lifetime”.
This Way Up records ceased to be in 1997 and Ian found himself without a deal once more, so accepted an invitation to join his friend Mike Scott (The Waterboys) on bass guitar for a lengthy European and Japanese tour.
Ian self financed another record in 1998, A Party Political Broadcast On Behalf Of The Emotional Party, which featured Danny Thompson (John Martyn, Nick Drake amongst others) on upright bass. They toured together that Autumn to promote the record.
At the end of the decade Ian released the live disc Live at Life, recorded over two nights at Liverpool’s Life Cafe.
Ian then joined The Waterboys on keyboards for a European tour. When this was completed, Ian accepted Ian Broudie’s invitation to record on ‘The Barge’ – Pete Townshend’s studio which Broudie was currently renting, moored next to Pete’s Eel Pie complex. The resulting album – Ian McNabb – saw a return of Ian’s love of guitar driven pop/rock and was released on Sanctuary Records in 2001.
Ian briefly played bass guitar in Ringo Starr’s band in 2002.
Throughout the 00s Ian released a further 5 solo albums : Waifs And Strays, The Gentleman Adventurer, Before All Of This, How We Live, and Great Things – all self financed and issued on his own Fairfield Records imprint to a small, dedicated fan base.
All albums were supported by extensive touring.
In 2009 Ian unleashed his autobiography Merseybeast which has become something of a cult classic amongst the rock fraternity (Peter Buck of R.E.M contacted Ian recently to tell him that he’d only just discovered the book and loved it!) – it has since been released as an audio book, narrated by Ian himself.
So far this decade, Ian has released Little Episodes, Eclectic Warrior, and Kruggerands – harder rocking albums which both feature the band Cold Shoulder ; Respectfully Yours (a long promised album of cover versions) – and the first two albums that form a ‘trilogy’ – Star, Smile, Strong, which features collaborations with Prof. Brian Cox, a co-write with Ralph Molina (from Crazy Horse), and the unexpected return of Icicle Works drummer Chris Sharrock (who had gone on to work with The La’s, World Party, Del Amitri, Dave Stewart, Mick Jagger, Robbie Williams, Oasis, and both Liam and Noel Gallagher in their solo endeavours), and most recently Our Future In Space, which once again features Cold Shoulder, and the song Aquamarine co-written with R.E.Ms Peter Buck.
In September 2019, Ian announced the forthcoming release of “Utopian”, which would complete the trilogy, and mark his 20th solo studio album. Owing to hold-ups brought about by the pandemic, Utopian was not officially released until April 2021. “It’s possible that we now hold the World record for the longest pre-order”, said McNabb recently.
Ian turned 60 in November 2020. Sadly, again due to the pandemic, all plans to celebrate with a lavish hometown show had to be cancelled. Ian’s “Utopian” tour, was pushed back into 2022.
Ian’s notoriety has grown on social media throughout the pandemic – his sometimes controversial opinions landed him in a spat with actor Russell Crowe in January 2021. The twitter exchange in which Crowe defended a comment that McNabb made about Master & Commander, was first picked up by Vanity Fair, and within hours was being covered internationally – we lost count at 130 outlets who published the story.
2021 saw the release of another new album – Ascending – which re-visits the Icicle Works, earliest cassette demo’s, and work is underway on the latest edition to the discography “Nabby Road” ; named after the studio which Ian set up at home during lockdown – “It’s been my salvation, really – and while I do write stuff to keep myself entertained, I record it for the fans – they make all of this possible, and I love them dearly!”
Ian still lives in Liverpool. Until her untimely passing in March 2022, Ian was full time carer for his Mum, Pat.
Affectionately known to friends and fans alike as ‘Mammo’; she is missed by all her who came to love her, and the internet depended on her commentary of The Brit Awards, and Eurovision!
McNabb Towers will never be the same.
Ian tours whenever he can, and continues to write and listen to music constantly.
As he reaches his 40th year of performing live shows, he intends to share more stories and hours of greatest hits with all those who choose to turn out to see him.
FOCUS
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 17th
The band from the 60’s that just keeps giving.
Featuring Thijs Van Leer, Pierre Van Der Linden, Menno Gootjes and Udo Pannekeet.
Fresh from the studio where they have recorded their eagerly awaited new album, they will traverse the UK to give their loyal fans what they always want…a good time, and timeless music.
Each song breathtakingly unique, and each performance different to the one before.
How much longer will Focus tour?
We have had 50 years of this amazingly spectacular show, and Focus have achieved so much during this time span.
From Polydor’s record plant closing to other bands to press nothing but Focus for ten days to meet demand for Moving Waves, to being a favourite of Bob Harris on The Old Grey Whistle Test and to holding top ten positions in the UK charts with both singles and albums.
Now for some interesting Focus facts: Focus have featured in the orchestra pit for Victor Spinetti’s musical Hair; they have claimed a knighthood; soundtracked on a 2010 football World Cup commercial featuring Wayne Rooney; Hocus Pocus was featured in the iconic car chase sequence, after the bank heist in 2017 movie Baby Driver and also featured in Disney’s Classic TROLLS WORLD TOUR Movie 2020
The men of Focus are looking forward to seeing you all on their ‘Hocus Pocus Tour ’ at their favourite venues in November, and a few exciting new ones too.
That classic Whistle Test performance…
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THE REVOLUTIONAIRES
NOVEMBER 18th £14
Without doubt one of the very best bands ever to have appeared on the Shire Hall stage and they are in some illustrious company believe me…
Established within the ‘hotbed’ of the North East music scene in the UK, they power out jumpin’ hot rhythm & blues in their own indomitable hard hitting style.
Primarily, they are influenced by 1940’s and 1950’s R&B. In particular, Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner, Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Roy Brown but have adopted a harder and more aggressive approach, synonymous with modern blues artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Duke Robillard, Jools Holland and Mike Henderson which helps create their own high energy sound.
Over the last decade, The Revolutionaires have established themselves on the UK and European Rockin’ circuit, as well as the Blues scene.
They have toured extensively both in the UK and abroad, performing at festivals in Ireland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Malta and Dubai.
Highlights include performing at festivals with artistes such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Sting, Tom Jones, Hugh Laurie, Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Cray, Walter Trout, Eric Bibb, Albert Lee, Snake Davis and Dave Edmunds.
Now also touring with their Big Band project which consists of extra horns and pianist, The Revs are hitting the Festival circuit with this power house line up and big sound.
They have recorded five CDs to date containing a collection of Hot Rockin’ R&B tracks. Each CD captures the ‘rawness’ and sheer energy of the band, who like to give their performances a ‘hard-edged’ vibe!
If you ‘get yourself down’ to a Revs gig, in the words of the Ronnie Molleen tune ….” We’ll be rockin’ up a storm tonight! “
GARY STEWARTS GRACELAND
FRIDAY DECEMBER 1st £16.50
The very last Howden Live show before the surreal and distressing time that was covid was at Howden Minster with Gary Stewarts Graceland, the porch of the church is probably still sanitised from our home made sanitiser splashing around (Equal parts of aloe vera and rubbing alcohol if anyone’s interested…)
This was the third time that the Graceland show had played in Howden Minster and people were literally dancing in the aisles, a measure of what uplifting, dynamic concerts they were. After far too long a time they’re back, bringing with them the same exuberance, passion and musical skill that have so endeared this wonderful band to Howden audiences, this time at the Shire Hall.
Formed in 2016 to play Kate Rusby’s Underneath the Stars Festival, Gary Stewart’s Graceland are a seven-piece ensemble that faithfully recreate Paul Simon’s 1986 classic album in all its’ glory. With layers of guitars and percussion, bouncy accordion, vocal harmonies and many a bass solo, Gary and his band bring the South African rhythms and harmonies to life in concert halls and Festivals all around the U.K.
Expect to hear those magical songs, with their captivating stories, distinctive harmonies and South African rhythms brought to life in front of you with no detail spared; from the layers of guitars and percussion, right down to the legendary bass solos and maybe even some token dance moves – if you’re lucky! Let the singing, dancing and nostalgia take hold and pretend you’re basking under the hot summer sun in Zimbabwe
“Gary Stewart & his band masterfully recreated not just the sound of Paul Simon’s Graceland album but also the energy and soul that makes the original recording such a huge joy to listen to. An ambitious and wonderful feat to achieve in a live performance.” Underneath the Stars Festival
“The first time I saw Gary Stewart’s Graceland was at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds in August 2022. A friend I met there asked me if I’d be down at the front with her, dancing? No, absolutely not, I replied, I don’t dance! Except it turns out I do. It was impossible to stay still! It was a fun, joyous, energy-filled show that I absolutely loved. So much so, that I booked to see it another twice last year! And now it’s coming to ARC – I can’t wait!”
GENO WASHINGTON & THE RAM JAM BAND !
December 2nd £21
Geno Washington’s status as the undisputed ‘King of Soul’ was cemented forever by Kevin Rowland and Dexy’s Midnight Runners in the 1980s, with the World-wide No. 1 smash hit single ‘Geno’. It paid homage to the great man himself and is still played regularly today on national radio and at Geno’s live gigs both before and after shows.
Geno Washington and The Ram Jam Band had two of the biggest selling UK albums of the sixties. Amazingly both of these were live albums. Hand Clappin, Foot Stompin, Funky Butt Live was in the album charts for 48 weeks of the year 1966 and was only out-sold by The Sound of Music and Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme.
US soul acts rarely visited the UK and, having come over as a part of the US Air Force and stayed, Geno was our soul man. His level of touring and the high energy of his gigs was, and still is (as immortalized by Dexy’s Midnight Runners in the 80’s hit Geno) the stuff of legends. During his sets, the beat was continuous and the hits were incessant.
It was really Geno who pioneered this Go, Go style of performing and the audiences simply could not get enough. With the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Cream, and Pink Floyd in support Geno could never relax. These spiritual meanderings were abruptly halted when, in 1980 Blighty beckoned once more. A call came from old friends in the UK that a tribute called Geno (mentioned above) had gone to number one in the charts.
In interviews, the singer, Kevin Roland, was speaking of this legendary soul man, whose name they used to chant up and down the land and public interest in Geno was growing for a new generation. Soon, Anglophile Geno, was back in the UK and back on the road.
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