The SpArC Theatre in Shropshire, England hosted the first show from the group and the band are also booked to support Fairport Convention at the Forum in Bath on February 16th, reports local outlet inbath.net.
Sparc Thea Tre Facebook page shared a recap of Robert and co's performance. They here, wrote, "something very special happened at SpArC Theatre Robert Plant with his new band Saving Grace perfromed with support from The Beez Neez.
"The Theatre had a wonderful warm and intimate atmosphere with the audience unaware of the identity of the bands until The Beez Neez kicked the evening off to a flying start.
"Saving Grace came on stage with Robert declaring that this was the band's first gig and he was very happy to be back in 'Bouncy Castle'. He went on to say how they 'deeply support SpArC Theatre and others like it' and 'how important it is to preserve these places of music, theatre and art for communities in Shropshire , Herefordshire and Everywhereshire'.
"Their music was sublime, laid back and bluesy with eastern and folk influences. Robert was in fine voice, Suzi's vocals blended perfectly as well as standing out and owning it in her own right. With warm harmonies from Tony and Matt, and beautifully crafted, textural guitar, mandolin, banjo and percussion too we couldn't believe our luck!
"The new project is called Saving Grace; a co-operative including Robert Plant - vocals/harmonica, Suzi Dian - vocals, Tony Kelsey - mandolin, baritone and acoustic guitars, Matt Worley - banjo, acoustic and baritone guitars, and cuatro, Oli Jefferson - percussion.
"Described as 'music inspired by the dreamscape of the Welsh Marches'.
'from a whisper to a scream' ....so what better place to come and play. In late December 2018 Robert Plant came to SpArC in Bishop's Castle with his friend and local musician Geoff Grimes, as he was looking for small intimate venues for his new music project. Robert knows and loves the area and after a tour of the theatre by Manager Elizabeth Still he was impressed with the venue, and was also very keen to support the theatre when he heard its' future was under threat. So we set about making it happen."
Presented by Home Of Metal - a local organization that celebrates music from Birmingham and the Black Country - the exhibition aims to explore how the music of four working-class lads captured the hearts and minds of fans globally while paying homage to the fan's devotion and documenting that fifty-year relationship.
"It's an honor to be a part of the Home Of Metal," says Ozzy Osbourne. "I am just a guy from Birmingham who's been blessed to have had such dedicated fans throughout my career. Like I've always said 'I am nothing without them.'"
"I've always maintained that Sabbath fans are the most loyal and honest and most independently minded of all," proclaims bassist Geezer Butler. "I thank each and every one of them for their incredible support over the years."
"Fans are our lifeblood," adds guitarist Tony Iommi, "they've always been there to support us."
"You're a Sabbath fan, and everything about you is beautiful and worthwhile," states drummer Bill Ward. "I'm so grateful to have played for you, and met you in the heart and soul of each song. Stay safe, be good to yourselves, and rock forever and ever." Read more
here.
The long-running tour brings together a who's who of players to play tribute to the music and the legacy of Jimi Hendrix and this year will be no exception with Mustaine joining such icons as Joe Satriani, Taj Mahal, Billy Cox, Doug Pinnick, Dweezil Zappa, Kenny Aronoff, Cesar Rosas, Jonny Lang, and Eric Johnson.
Dave was asked about how became involved during a chat with The Opus podcast and he said, "Just like doing the classical performance with the Symphony, it's getting out of my wheelhouse. When these guys asked me to do this, I myself was very flattered, because, to me, Jimi is the status which I aspired to be my whole life. I wanted to be a guitar legend, and granted, I am considered a legend right now, but I still think Jimi is so much more grand than I am. I love his legend, I love how people revere him, and this is one of the, if not the most flattering thing outside of Megadeth I've ever been able to do."
He continued, "I think when you look at the people who are playing here, paying respect to Jimi, it can't help but pique your curiosity. It certainly piques my curiosity. I was a little bit apprehensive to take this gig, because knowing how extremely talented Joe Satriani is, and I've been a fan of Eric Johnson's for years - ever since the 'Cliffs Of Dover' song came out. So I was a little bit nervous, but then I thought, 'God, I'm gonna be in the presence of these guys walking the earth and the spirit of Jimi Hendrix. How can I lose?'" Read more including the dates
here.
The package presented a series of new studio recordings alongside the legendary band's April 1994 MTV concert, which marked their first appearance in 14 years following a 1980 breakup.
"Hell Freezes Over" features the band's "Long Run"-era lineup - drummer/vocalist Don Henley, guitarist/vocalist Glenn Frey, guitarist/vocalist Joe Walsh, guitarist/vocalist Don Felder, and bassist/vocalist Timothy B. Schmit - performing the new studio tracks in addition to 11 classics from the reunion sessions that took place on April 25 and 26, 1994 at Warner Burbank Studios in Burbank, CA.
The album-opening, studio track, "Get Over It," set the tone for the overall proceedings, while "Love Will Keep Us Alive" - with lead vocals from Schmit - reached No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in 1995.
Highlights of the live portion of the album include the acoustic reimagining of "Hotel California," the Walsh showcase "Pretty Maids All In A Row," Henley's "New York Minute" that features the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra, the band's 1972 debut single, "Take It Easy," and the finale of the title track to 1973's "Desperado." Read more
here.
The second single from their tenth album topped the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart upon its release in the fall of 2016 as the band were playing warm-up dates for the WorldWired tour in South America.
Prior to resuming the North American leg of the trek in Tulsa, OK on January 18, Metallica were among the acts that appeared at the all-star "I Am The Highway: A Tribute To Chris Cornell" concert at The Forum in Los Angeles.
The group bookended their four-song set with a pair of tracks from Soundgarden's 1988 debut, "Ultramega OK", opening with "All Your Lies" and closing with "Head Injury", while delivering two of their own classics: 1984's "For Whom The Bell Tolls" and 1986's "Master Of Puppets." Watch the video
here.
Expected to be released in May, the band's 13th studio set sees David Coverdale joined by guitarists Reb Beach and Joel Hoekstra, bassist Michael Devin, keyboardist Michele Luppi and drummer Tommy Aldridge.
The lineup will begin a spring US tour in Newkirk, OK on April 12. "We are truly excited and looking forward to playing across the globe in 2019 on what will be a continued celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Whitesnake," says Coverdale. "I am so honored and grateful to have toured this incredible world we share, for over 40 years, celebrating and enjoying unforgettable moments with millions of people... All of whom have joined me on this amazing journey... I truly love the shared experience and simply love my job and always will... Over four decades of reptilian fun! Thank you!"
"Flesh & Blood" marks the follow-up to 2015's "The Purple Album", a project that saw Coverdale re-record classic songs from the Deep Purple Mark 3 and Mark 4 records he appeared on.
here.
Townsend will be releasing the new studio effort on March 29th and will head to Europe on November 15th to kick off the Empath Europe - Volume 1 Tour in Paris.
He had this to say, "After a year of intensive recording, mixing, and reflection, I have decided where I want to take the next level of my career as a live performer. I have had success and great memories from both the Devin Townsend Project as well as Strapping Young Lad, but now I am fortunate enough to be able to follow the muse where it currently leads. I am proud to announce that for the first 'band' tour of the Empath cycle, I am going to stretch my wings in ways I have not had the opportunity to do before and tour with a 'backing band' that can shift and morph as the music dictates instead of adhering to a click track. 'Empath Europe Volume 1' will be the first example of this, and the first tour will be in Europe (other territories to follow)." Read more
here.
The band is launching the tour in support of their brand new covers album, entitled "'Varshons 2", which is hitting stores this Friday, February 8th.
The trek will be kicking off on May 2nd in Fairfield, Ct at The Fairfield Theatre Company and will wrap up on June 15th in Boston, Ma at the Paradise Rock Club. See the dates
here.
The new studio effort is scheduled to hit stores around the world and online on March 22nd and fans can get their first taste of the record with the new track here.
Robin recorded the album at Studio 91 in Newbury, with engineer Sam Winfield and he had this to say about some of the tracks, "'Diving Bell' is probably my favorite track on the album.
"'Truth Or Lies', that one was quite hard to pull off. I love the song, but I recorded it once and wasn't happy with it, so I started from scratch again. It's got quite a strong early R&B flavor to it. That song is not really about me. I'm writing from the viewpoint of a guy whose loved one has been messing around. 'Someone Of Great Renown', again, that song isn't about me, but it's maybe someone that I'd like to be.
"'Lonesome Road', "that's about me touring and asking how long I can go on with it. That's definitely coming from my heart and head. 'Ghosts' is about things from the past where you didn't do right in your personal life. 'Don't Ever Change' is an out-and-out love song: a very nice, easy vibe, but still quite soulful."
He will be hitting the road to support the new album with a U.S. tour this spring where he will be backed by bassist/vocalist Richard Watts and drummer Chris Taggart. See the dates
here.
This is the band's first new studio album in just over 6 years and forms part of the build up to the band's forthcoming 50th Anniversary. The band is also just starting a world tour, in support of the album, which will be launched on Cruise to the Edge 2019.
The 11 track album has been released as a CD, gatefold coloured LP and Download on the band's own In And Out of Focus Records, via Cherry Red. The album features artwork by Roger Dean.
When asked about the album, Thijs van Leer responded with this poem:
Wow, my joy could not increase
To see this new release
It has Mazzel, Palindrome and Heaven
Plus a title track called Eleven
Both angelic and a beast
It's Focus, to say the least!
'We Caught It' was a song that almost didn't get written. I had almost finished the basic lyrics and melody of the song a while before I showed it to John. It was a much more singer songwriter vibe then. John saw potential in it though and basically completely revamped the whole thing alongside our co-producer Ruadhri Cushnan (Mumford & Sons, Ed Sheeran). We ended up writing and producing the whole post chorus section of the song on our last evening in the studio... which for us is probably our favorite part of the whole thing.
The lyrics are sort of about losing your inhibitions on a night out, about having the courage to get closer to someone when you didn't have the courage before. The video was a complete spur of the moment decision. We had somehow gotten into the Google Christmas Party in the Royal Dublin Society in Dublin; it was more of a festival than a party with over 5,000 Google staff and a generally insane set up through five venues of the RDS. John said to me after a few cocktails "Wouldn't it be unreal to shoot a music video here?!"... I happened to have some headphones in my bag so the two of us ran around the place with some friends and shot the whole thing on our iPhones. It sort of fit with the whole vibe of the song; doing stuff you shouldn't do while inebriated.
Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen and watch for yourself with a video they shot on an iPhone
right here!
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