From the Jam features Bruce Foxton from the original Jam line up. He also spent 15 years playing bass with Stiff Little Fingers. Bruce is joined by Russell Hastings on lead vocal and guitar. From The Jam have gained a reputation for the kind of incendiary ‘live’ performances that sealed the reputation of The Jam all those years ago. Audiences can expect to hear classic The Jam hits such as Down In The Tube Station At Midnight, Going Underground, Town Called Malice and The Modern World as well as some live favourites and songs from Bruce’s solo career.

DHP Presents The Selecter \+ support Presented by DHP FAMILY. This is a 14+ event.

Legends of Irish music & song, The Fureys are renowned for their hit songs 'I will love you', 'When you were sweet 16', 'The Green fields of France', 'The old man', 'Red rose café', 'From Clare to here', 'Her father didn't like me anyway', 'Leaving Nancy', 'Steal away' etc The oldest of the brothers, Eddie Furey left home in 1966 and travelled to Scotland at the time of the great folk revival where, with his brother Finbar, he met and shared accommodation with then unknown folk singers Billy Connolly, Gerry Rafferty, Tam Harvey and Alex Campbell. In 1972, Gerry Rafferty wrote 'Her father didn't like me anyway' for Eddie. BBC Radio 1 presenter, the late John Peel made it his single of the year. They are particularly proud of their UK chart success with songs such as I Will Love You and When You Were Sweet Sixteen, which in turn helped bring Irish folk and traditional music to a completely new audience. The band made their Top of the Pops debut in 1981. Eddie Furey recalls how "many musicians have told us we influenced them after hearing a record from their parents or grandparents' collection". Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics has credited Eddie with teaching him his first chords on the guitar while still a teenager. Eddie would return the compliment by joining Dave on stage in Paris for a jam during the latter's wedding to Bananarama's Siobhan Fahey. Their emotive songs stir many emotions, tears and laughter, sadness and joy.

Selling out at venues all over the world, Clearwater Creedence Revival feature road-hardened players who, collectively have performed with – Stax legend Steve Cropper, Big Country, Denny Laine (Wings, Moody Blues), Eric Haydocks Hollies, Animals And Friends, Alan Silson (Smokie), Wayne Fontana’s Mindbenders and more. Together, they are the best celebration of the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival and Fogerty you’re ever likely to see – and a band selling out all over the world, as audiences in Germany, Israel,Russia, Holland, Scandinavia, UK and more will attest! A tribute band like no other.

Eddie Lundon and Gary Daly are the founder members of the band which started in Kirkby, Merseyside back in 1979. China Crisis found major success in the UK with five Top 40 singles, ten Top 50 singles and three Top 40 albums and hits across Australia, Europe and the Americas. The band are known for their string of hit singles, including African & White, Christian, Working with Fire and Steel, Black Man Ray and Wishful Thinking, The RETROspective tour will see the band performing these classics alongside songs from all of their seven studio albums.

Bound together by lifelong friendship and shared experience for more than 25 years, the Fisherman’s Friends have met on the Platt (harbour) in their native Port Isaac to raise money for charity, singing the traditional songs of the sea handed down to them by their forefathers. In 2010 they signed a major record deal and their album Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends went gold as they became the first traditional folk act to land a UK top ten album. Since then they’ve been the subject of an ITV documentary, released the hit albums One and All and Proper Job and played to hundreds of thousands of fans at home and abroad. The Fisherman’s Friends have been widely credited with starting the revival of interest in shanty-style choral singing but a cornerstone of their success has been their constantly evolving and expanding repertoire.

Kenny Thomas was one of the most popular UK soul dance vocalists of the early 1990s. His biggest UK hit came in 1991 with ‘Thinking About Your Love’ (number 4), while his debut album sold more than 600, 000 copies in the UK alone. Other hit singles spawned by that debut included ‘Outstanding’, ‘The Best Of You’ and ‘Tender Love’, and also resulted in a Brit Award nomination for Best British Male Vocalist and Best British Newcomer. The warm, relaxed dance grooves of that debut were replicated on a second album that continued Thomas’ massive commercial success. Guest musicians this time round included the Young Disciples, Nu Colours and the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra. This time some of the bonhomie of the original set was more restrained, with a slightly more mature lyrical vision reflecting more real-life experiences.

“They’ve lasted because they are brilliant” Radio 2 Brothers Patrick and Gregory Kane formed Hue and Cry in the ’80s and the duo made a huge impact with the release of their debut album Seduced and Abandoned (1987) which featured their first top ten single Labour of Love. The follow up album Remote continued the trend and produced the huge hits Looking for Linda and Violently. Albums like Stars Crash Down, Showtime and Jazz Not Jazz ensured Hue and Cry’s continued successful run through the ’90s, whilst their 2005 appearances as finalists on ITV’s primetime show Hit Me Baby One More Time, featuring their version of Beyonce’s Crazy In Love, thrust the band firmly back into the mainstream limelight. A number of successful album releases and accompanying live appearances followed which included Open Soul (2008), Xmasday (2009), Bitter Suite Again (2010), Hot Wire (2012), Remote: Major to Minor (2014), September Songs (2015), Pocketful of Stones (2017). To date Hue and Cry have sold in excess of two million records worldwide. In 2019, Hue and Cry sold out their Summer Nights at the Bandstand show at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove park within forty-eight hours and finished the year by playing live all over the UK. With the global pandemic bringing live touring to a halt during 2020/21, Hue and Cry introduced their pioneering Live from Lockdown streaming shows which were broadcast live from the band’s Glasgow based studio and viewed online by thousands of fans around the world. A collection of their favourite tracks from these shows was released as a Best of Lockdown album (2022). Hue and Cry have sold tens of thousands of concert tickets worldwide. As well as performing alongside some of the greatest artists in music history – appearing with U2, James Brown, Madonna, Al Green and Van Morrison to name but a few – the band have undertaken a multitude of their own headline tours and made numerous festival appearances. Hue and Cry were recognised by their peers when they were recently presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Scottish Music Awards. The band are currently working on a brand new album and have made a welcome return to performing in front of audiences.

Award-winning indie-folk band from the Highlands of Scotland.

TV favourite Ed Byrne tours his Best Reviewed Show at the Edinburgh Festival, British Comedy Guide's No 1 Comedy show, and his most personal show to date. From the quote attributed to Mark Twain, humour is defined as Tragedy Plus Time. Come and join one of our leading laugh specialists as he tests that formula by mining the most tragic event in his life for laughs. With his TV career now in its third decade, Ed has regularly appeared on the likes of QI, Mock The Week, Alan Davies As Yet Untitled, and Live At The Apollo. With legions of fans both in the UK and abroad, Ed remains the observational stand-up to see.

One of the UK’s most exciting live performers, Nathan Carter's energetic showmanship is proving irresistible for fans, even scoring him a prestigious slot performing for Pope Francis in Croke Park in Dublin, as well as shows in Ireland at the 3Arena Dublin and SSE Arena Belfast. With tracks such as ‘Wagon Wheel’ and ‘I Wanna Dance’ receiving hit status, he is one of Ireland’s biggest artists, and with an incredible 7 top 10 albums under his belt, he is well on his way to becoming a household name.

The Skids formed in 1977 in their home town of Dunfermline, Scotland by Richard Jobson, Stuart Adamson, Bill Simpson & Tom Kellichan. After releasing an independent single the band were played by John Peel, supported The Clash in concert and then were signed to Virgin Records in 1978. Their first singles were ‘Sweet Surburbia’, ‘The Saints are Coming’ and ‘Into the Valley’ - the latter reaching the UK Top Ten in early 1979. Their seminal debut album ‘Scared to Dance’; came out in 1979 and was quickly followed by two chart singles – ‘Masquerade’ and ‘Working for the Yankee Dollar’. Both singles were taken from the Bill Nelson (Be Bop Deluxe) produced second album ‘Days in Europa’. The album also featured new member Rusty Egan of Rich Kids & Visage fame after the departure of Tom Kellichan. The band released two more albums ‘The Absolute Game’ (1980) and ‘Joy’ (1981) before splitting. Stuart Adamson went on to have worldwide success with his new band Big Country. The Skids were at the heart of the punk scene in Scotland and took their music to London where they were signed by Virgin records. They made 4 albums and had numerous hit singles including Into the Valley, The Saints are Coming, Masquerade and Working for the Yankee Dollar.

The Oxted Sessions is delighted to welcome legendary 70s folk-rock pioneers Lindisfarne. With a classic five-piece line-up of long-time members, fronted by founder-member Rod Clements on vocals, mandolin, fiddle and slide guitar. With a repertoire of unforgettable songs like Meet Me On The Corner, Fog On The Tyne, Lady Eleanor and Run For Home, and a reputation for live performance second-to-none, Lindisfarne’s power to galvanize audiences and get them on their feet remains undimmed.

Francis Dominic Nicholas Michael Rossi, OBE is an English musician. He is the co-founder, lead singer, lead guitarist and the sole continuous member of the rock band Status Quo.

Fairport Convention has been entertaining music lovers for over half a century. During that time the band that launched British folk-rock has seen many changes. But one thing has remained the same - Fairport's passion for performance. The band skilfully interprets traditional ballads and the repertoire also includes plenty of contemporary compositions.

Get ready for a celebration of Alabama 3’s 1997 debut album, Exile On Coldharbour Lane and their sophomore album, La Peste, alongside a selection of greatest hits. It's the 25th anniversary of the hit song "Woke Up This Morning", which served as the iconic theme song for the acclaimed TV show The Sopranos, and the track which features on both records.

Quite simply one of the most successful and popular singers the UK has ever produced. Now in the 5th decade of her career, she is still proving to be one of the most powerful and versatile vocal talents of our generation. With numerous hit singles, million selling albums and awards, her annual tours are treat for fans old and new. Performing some of her classic hits, blues and jazz, an electric evening with Elkie is guaranteed to leave you begging for more. Elkie is a stunning performer and whatever she does, she does it best live. Don’t miss the chance to see a truly great artist in action.

You might have seen him on Strictly Come Dancing, Scared of the Dark, Would I Lie to You, Have I Got News for You, The Royal Variety, QI, Blankety Blank, The Last Leg, and tons more as well. He's been called an "overnight success" - Even though he's been doing this for bloody yonks! Chris McCausland is hitting the road again with another masterclass in stand-up comedy that has literally been yonks in the making. The last tour was a sell-out, so get your tickets now!

Bossa Nova = Nouvelle Vague = New Wave. This transliteration was the starting point for Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux’s unique project, which, by appropriating the punk and post-punk cannon and running it through the Bossa Nova filter, reinvented the cover band genre, revealing new and brilliant talents along the way: Camille, Phoebe Killdeer, Nadeah, Mélanie Pain, and Liset Alea. The group’s first two albums, Nouvelle Vague (2004) and Bande A Part (2006) defined their unique sound with Bossa versions of New Wave Classics. Their third album NV3 (2009) featured collaborations with Depeche Mode's Martin Gore, Ian McCullouch from Echo and the Bunnymen, Terry Hall from The Specials, Barry Adamson, The Saints & Minimal Compact.

Oh, it’s all there! All the trademarks are in evidence in Ardal’s latest show. Beautifully crafted stand-up comedy? Yes. Celebrated use of language? Tick. Lateral thinking, surreal flourishes, sharp observations? Of course. As for the occasional profundity? Maybe. Despite his best attempts over many decades to put the world to rights, it is still a colossal mess. And so, Ardal has no choice but to go out on the road again. Like the good comedy doctor he is, he fearlessly diagnoses the various pathologies and neuroses that are currently ravaging humanity. Disclaimer: No solutions provided. After an alarming experience at the supermarket, Ardal reflects on who he is as a man and a comedian. He examines his own ethnic and religious background, and thinks twice about the very core of his identity as a voice of reason. Is everything a big lie? With no major trauma of his own to draw on for material, apart from the drag of getting older, he also turns his gaze outwards at the joys and follies of contemporary life. Towel Animals? A.I.? Chair Yoga? Cauliflower as a main course? Yes. Yes. Yes. And Yes. No current idiocy is left unexamined. With a highly developed sense of the ridiculous, and proper comedy bones, NOT HIMSELF, is a testament to the healing power of humour. And the joy of jokes.

Across The Universe perform The Beatles' studio years with a live band and orchestra. Our team of composers has painstakingly transcribed these legendary arrangements by ear, ensuring the parts are closer to the original recordings than you'll find anywhere else. The show then brings them to the stage with love, energy, and enthusiasm.

Mr P has been a primary school teacher for over twelve years. He still works part-time in school and leads training in schools all over the UK and beyond. From sharing ideas and funny insights into life in the classroom, he has now become one of the most followed teachers on social media in the UK. Three years ago, alongside his younger brother (who also works in a school) he started the award-winning podcast Two Mr Ps in a Podcast. In a year, it has been the number one education podcast and amassed over three million listens. Sharing funny stories from the front line of teaching, this live show will see the Two Mr Ps reminiscing on their own school days and looking at the wonderful and hilarious world of education. Anyone who went to school will enjoy and relate to this brilliant new show.

Lucy Spraggan is a British singer-songwriter known for her unique blend of acoustic pop, folk, and witty lyricism. She first gained widespread attention during her appearance on The X Factor in 2012, where her original song "Last Night (Beer Fear)" captured the hearts of viewers. Although she left the competition early, her performance on the show catapulted her into the spotlight, and her debut album Top Room at the Zoo soon followed, reaching high on the UK charts. Her subsequent albums, including Join the Club (2013) and Choices (2021), further showcased her knack for storytelling, tackling themes of love, life, and personal growth. Lucy Spraggan’s live performances are renowned for their intimate, down-to-earth feel, often filled with a mix of humour and heartfelt emotion. She has toured extensively across the UK, performing at major festivals like Glastonbury and Isle of Wight, as well as headlining her own sold-out shows. Her open discussions about mental health, sobriety, and personal resilience have made her a relatable figure to many fans, and her music continues to inspire with its honest and uplifting messages. Lucy remains a beloved figure in the British music scene, known for her authenticity and charm.

Introducing PorkPie, Scotland's nine piece Ska Behemoth, a music force of nature that have been tearing up stages the length and breadth of the British isles. Combining top quality dance along ska standards with well crafted originals.

Making her name as a backing singer for indie-rock collective Bombay Bicycle Club, Rose embarked on her own musical journey and released her debut album in 2012. The Surrey-born singer-songwriter performs indie-folk originals.

Due to huge demand, John Shuttleworth returns to the Playhouse this November with Raise the Oof! Radio 4 favourite, comedy legend, and ‘the 42nd best reason to love Britain’ (The Telegraph) John Shuttleworth, is back with more hilarious stories and songs performed on his trusty Yamaha organ (with built-in auto accompaniment!) In Raise The Oof John celebrates 40 years in showbiz. Yes, it was 1985 when he met TV’s Clarinet Man – next door neighbour Ken Worthington who came last on New Faces in 73 (Tony Hatch crucified him!)

Ever wondered what became of Darth Vader and Mr Stevens or the monkey in the tree, did the pears ever ripen… and will God ever appear? It’s a glorious chance to ‘maybe’ find out the answers or discover more questions to those Izzard conundrums. It’s highly likely that no night will be exactly the same so as ever with Eddie, expect the unexpected. This show promises to be a beautiful, hilarious journey spanning a 35 year career of talking thought provoking, nonsense, who could resist?

Apparently caterpillars completely break down into goo before they become butterflies. Come join comedian Sara Pascoe as she reconsiders and reconstructs herself after having two babies and very little sleep.

Two-time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel is one of Australia’s most respected musicians. The legendary guitarist has a professional career that spans five decades and continues to intersect with some of the finest musicians throughout the world. A household name in his native Australia, Tommy has garnered hundreds of thousands of loyal fans worldwide. Tommy’s unique style – he calls it simply “finger style” – is akin to playing guitar the way a pianist plays piano, using all ten fingers. Rather than using a whole band for melody, rhythm, bass, and drum parts, Tommy plays all that – and more – on one guitar. Guitar legend Chet Atkins was one of the first to inspire Emmanuel to try this “fingerpicker” style as a child. Decades later, Atkins himself became one of Emmanuel’s biggest fans. Tommy Emmanuel is an honorary Kentucky Colonel, a CGP (Certified Guitar Player – a title given by Chet Atkins to only 5 guitarists in the world), an Order of Australia Medalist (AM) and the holder of both an honorary Master’s Degree (MA) and more recently an honorary Doctor of Arts (DR) from Charles Sturt University in Australia in recognition of his commitment to rural Australia and his contribution to music education.

Ward Thomas could tell that change was afoot from the moment they wrote Cartwheels, now the punch-to-the-stomach title track of their sensational second album. Straight away the sisters knew the song was special. What they didn’t know was that their second album ‘Cartwheels’ would sail to #1 on the UK Album Chart on release making them the first ever UK country act to do so. Cartwheels the album, as you might guess, contains a cartwheel of emotions and each song suggested its own sound. “Lyrically, it was much more grown-up than anything on our debut. Sonically, it was a move away from country to lots of other influences we grew up with – Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles, KT Tunstall, some Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift’s Red album. We’re still influenced by country, we still adore the Dixie Chicks and Kacey Musgraves, but this isn’t just a country album.” In fact, the title track is among several on the album to shrug off country entirely, although the 22 year old twins’ beguiling harmonies remain their calling card. Lose Me is a fast-paced pop song that rocks out. The glorious Almost Easy adds strings and electronics to the mix. Bewitching ballad Who I’m Not is set to shimmering orchestration. Boisterous lead single Carry You Home is simply a storming pop song. The biggest change, however, was that the teenagers became adults. With their co-writers, they were four young women, sitting in a room, pouring their hearts out. They didn’t think in terms of genre, but of stories, emotions and coping mechanisms. They wrote about situations they had either experienced themselves or seen their friends go through. In extraordinary couplets they captured everything from deep friendship to deep despair, from loneliness and heartbreak to the joy of moving on, from feeling like a failure to the pleasure of heading to the hills to de-stress.

Horror author Nick Steen is having visions… A sinister black steeple; eerie lights in the sky that look like a Catherine wheel but are not remotely a Catherine wheel… Plus a giant skeleton with a moustache. Are they omens? Auguries? Portendings of things to come? (Spoiler – yes, they are). For Nick Steen’s imagination is bursting out of his brain and threatening to burst, in turn, the entirety of Stalkford. Can Nick stop the aforesaid bursting? Or have things already slightly burst regardless? And will there ultimately be a grand finale to this three-book series (aka a trilogy) or a more open-ended conclusion in order to leave potential room for further sequels? (That, btw, will ultimately be Garth’s decision.) From the fevered imagination of Horror Fiction’s Grand Frightener Garth Marenghi, author of Sunday Times-Bestselling Garth Marenghi’s TerrorTome and Garth Marenghi’s Incarcerat, come three freshly rancid tales of… …This Bursted Earth Hardback copies of This Bursted Earth will be available for purchase on the day. Be warned: signings are strictly time limited. You’ll get no more than one minute with the world’s greatest Frighternerman, Darkscribe, Doomsage (plus Man-Shee) before you’re moved on and/or manhandled

Horse makes an exciting return with the 30th year anniversary celebrations of the first Horse album The Same Sky. This is a rare chance to share and relive memories from the evocative and formative first Horse album. In March 1989, the first single You Could Be Forgiven was released. It was so different from anything else – and with thrilling first plays on Radio 1, this track absolutely set the bar. The first major UK tour followed. In 1990 the album followed and tours across Europe opening for artists such as Tina Turner and BB King. The standout song from this album and arguably, of any of her albums, is Careful, a beautiful and timeless song, which will forever be her My Way. A special night which will inevitably conjure up treasured times from over the years for her entire audience. It’s the full band show, playing the album in its entirety with B-sides and a best of the rest – a set choc-full of classic songs. A very special evening indeed.

The Sitkovetsky Trio is a well-established and exceptional piano trio, having previously received the BBC Music Magazine’s Chamber Music Award. This concert starts with a fresh interpretation of works from Max Bruch’s ‘Eight Pieces’, (originally written for piano, viola and clarinet), that allows each of the trio’s soloist talents to shine through in turn. The concert’s a rare opportunity to hear music by French composer Cècile Chaminade. In 1913, she was awarded the Légion d’Honneur, a first for a female composer. Her Piano Trio No. 2 in A min is a work filled with gorgeous and lyrical melodies, as is the concert’s finale work, Brahms’ Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major.

Formed in Birmingham in 1989, OCS spent six years fine-tuning their sound before lighting up the Britpop party with three Top 5 albums; 1996’s ‘Moseley Shoals’, 1997’s ‘Marchin’ Already’ and 1999’s ‘One From The Modern’. The band has also achieved seventeen Top 40 singles, including a staggering run of nine successive Top 20 singles and a mantelpiece full of awards. As with all the best groups, behind the swagger and style were great songs, with words and melodies that found their way into the public’s hearts. Honing their craft in the spirit of the soul, folk and blues greats who inspired them, Ocean Colour Scene’s celebrated live shows have cemented the relationship between the band and their fiercely loyal fanbase, with each concert serving as a communal outpouring of hope and joy, boasting the most life-affirming singalongs you’re likely to hear anywhere.

The exceptional classical guitarist Miloš Karadaglić will return with one of the UK’s top chamber orchestras. The Montenegran guitar hero with the chiselled jaw and perma-stubble brings his artistry to music from the baroque period to the 1960s, with a chamber orchestra at his back.

Journeying from leftfield contemporary pop to soft acoustics, Kathryn Williams' brand new album Night Drives explores a variety of fresh ideas. Her first official album since Hypoxia in 2015, Night Drives opens with some of Kathryn’s most immediately electronic tracks to date. Elsewhere on the album, a more cinematic sound is explored; slowly unravelling stories backed by delicate acoustics and elated, emotive string pieces; before relaxing into the more traditional world of folk inspired melancholia. Kathryn’s inimitable charm colours the whole album with emotion and affection. The classic references that Kathryn draws from, particularly that of fellow Liverpudlians The Beatles, are clear throughout the new record, which plays like a road-trip through her styles and influences. It recalls visions of a British countryside lightly illuminated by the flicker of passing lampposts and the endless, rolling landscapes beyond them. These are intelligent, self-aware tracks, with Kathryn’s unmistakable writing backed with beautifully arranged, natural compositions. Kathryn Williams is often described as 'a songwriter’s songwriter', her timeless and searching work has earned her accolades, critical acclaim, and a loyal fan-base. While her best-known work is characterised by rich and honest songwriting inspired by the greats, Williams has continually been able to evolve as an artist because she’s always looked outside of such boundaries - she continues to listen and learn while, at the same time, writing with a fiery spirit and a sense of adventure that has never once wilted.

Corto.alto is Glasgow's 8-piece Nu-Jazz sensation, fronted by mastermind Liam Shortall, blending sounds from Afrobeat, Hip Hop & Soul, backed by an integral jazz mindset and comprising some of Scotland’s finest young jazz talents.

Bringing her fresh, unapologetic and charismatic real talk to theatres across the country, The One Like Judi Love hits theatres on her first official tour! Expect unrelenting and hilarious anecdotes from Judi's life! Expect unrelenting and hilarious anecdotes from Judi's life! Regular panellist on Loose Women and as seen on Taskmaster, The Jonathan Ross Show, The Graham Norton Show, 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and The Royal Variety Performance.

The host of Tea With Me podcast is fresh off the back of a world tour. Northern Ireland’s (self titled) prince of comedy is returning with a brand new laughter packed show.

written by Megan Shandley and presented by Mr Handel and his sidekick Frances John Butt, director The singers and musicians of Dunedin Consort Paul Whittaker, BSL Interpreter Our Children’s Messiah performances are specially crafted with young ears in mind! Guided by Mr Handel and his footwoman, Frances, this specially devised 45-minute adaptation of Handel’s masterpiece will guide young listeners through some of his greatest hits, with plenty of fun and interactive games along the way. For many children this may be their first introduction to the concert hall — and we want it to be a transformative experience. Get to know our soloists, conductor, chorus and orchestra, as well as the music that we love to perform. And who knows, there might even be the chance for some brave audience members to conduct the orchestra....

George Frideric Handel, Messiah, HWV 56 John Butt, director
, Nardus Williams, soprano
, Jess Dandy, contralto, 
Joshua Ellicott, tenor
, Dingle Yandell, bass
, Paul Whittaker, bsl interpreter (Glasgow only) It’s no surprise that Handel’s Messiah continues to draw audiences back year after year. There is nothing quite like it. Although the Hallelujah chorus has become the work’s calling card, Handel wrote every note to impress and astound his listeners. Its choruses are as grand as anything Handel ever composed, the solo writing profoundly moving, the drama powerful and compelling. Performed ‘the Dunedin way’ as Handel would have first heard it, with a small orchestra, a team of twelve singers and soloists who step out from the chorus, there are few more uplifting ways to celebrate the festive season.

Born in 1981, it took only 17 years for comedian, writer, actor, television and radio presenter Jason Manford to make his mark on the live circuit. Working as a glass collector at the Buzz Comedy Club in Manchester's suburban area of Chorlton, Manford stepped in when a scheduled performer failed to turn up. Just six live gigs later he claimed The City Life North West Comedian Of The Year award, launching a career that would cement him as a household name across the United Kingdom. Jason’s been busy since his last smash-hit stand up show but fans of his Absolute Radio show will know this nationally acclaimed comedian hasn’t changed a bit.

Tom Davis is back on the road, firing out his freshly cooked observations on life's hot topics. Co-host of the mega-hit podcast Wolf and Owl with Romesh Ranganathan, star of BAFTA and Royal Television Society award-winning comedy series Murder in Successville and BBC One smash-hit comedy King Gary, Tom also has his own special Underdog available to watch on Sky and NOW TV.

Celebrate the festive season in style with the sensational Down for the Count Swing Orchestra, as they "Swing Into Christmas"! Fast becoming a holiday tradition for audiences around the country, this is a Christmas spectacular like no other – Down for the Count’s 30-piece big band with strings is one of the largest swing bands currently touring the UK. Directed by conductor and compère Mike Paul-Smith and featuring some of the UK’s top vocalists and instrumentalists, the orchestra recreates the sounds of Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday in a unique performance full of joy and humour, which has won the hearts of music lovers up and down the country. Audiences of all ages will be captivated by vibrant takes of iconic songs, including The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting), I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year and New York, New York, alongside many fantastic new song selections for the 2025 show – all performed in authentic big-band-with-strings style. The Down for the Count Swing Orchestra is one of the UK's most highly-regarded vintage ensembles, having sold out shows at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, The London Jazz Festival, and many other prestigious venues. It may be cold outside, but a night with the Down for the Count Swing Orchestra is guaranteed to leave you and the whole family in the warm glow of the holiday spirit! Programme includes: - I've Got You Under My Skin - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting) - The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Theme from New York, New York …and many more!

Justin Hawkins - founding member, singer, lead guitarist and frontman of The Darkness - arrived in the public’s consciousness along with his band’s debut album “Permission To Land” in 2003. 22 years and 8 studio albums later, Justin brings his YouTube show “Justin Hawkins Rides Again” to the Stage. JHRA Live sees Justin dissect the very entrails of the music industry with all the insight of a man described by the gutter press as a “cat-suit wearing noughties rock legend.” There will be no catsuit, but there will be legends about rock, new music, music news and observations of the oblique kind. You’ll laugh, you might cry but you will leave asking, ‘What in the name of Creed was that?'

Aye aye! Ahoy hoy! The unstoppable talking panjandrum is back in town! Celebrating 50 years afloat on the showbiz seas! Dead men tell no tales – so might as well get ’em all told now! Avast! Two thundering hours guaranteed!

After multiple sell out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and right across England, the Transatlantic Ensemble visit Wales again this summer. They will be performing Fleetwood Mac's iconic Rumours album in its entirety, plus loads of other well-known Fleetwood Mac classics. Experience one of the greatest albums of all time, lovingly and accurately recreated live, by this stunning ensemble of gifted young musicians and vocalists.

Samantha Fish is an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist knwn for her astute and nuanced storytelling. As one of the most dynamic blues forces in the world today, she continues to blaze a trail of her own.

Some people are built to Embrace the Chaos. Jason Fox is one of them, having survived some of the most hostile outposts on Earth as an elite operator, documentary maker and expedition leader. Jason will share a series of never-told-before stories, his close brushes with enemy gunmen, terrorist bomb makers and cartel leaders, while revealing his strategies for surviving — and thriving — in environments as life-threatening as the Arctic Circle and Afghan badlands. Though, as you’ll learn, nothing is as terrifying as the rogue celebrity on SAS: Who Dares Wins… Challenge your limits, change your habits and transform your life.

Taking us through the summer of music is none other than Toots and the Maytals. A Grammy award winner, his sound is a unique and original combination of Gospel, Ska, Soul, Reggae and Rock. Maytal’s influence on popular music is undeniable. Considered a musical legend, the artist’s catalogue has been covered by artists from Amy Winehouse to Sublime.

Gotobeat by arrangement with Mister Ibé presents Ibrahim Maalouf 'Trumpets Of Michel-Ange'. Ibrahim Maalouf, a trailblazing figure in French music, achieved global recognition over the past decade. In 2022, his album "Queen of Sheba" earned him a historic Grammy nomination, followed by another nod in 2023 for "Capacity to Love." His extensive career includes being the first jazz musician to fill France's largest concert hall, receiving multiple Victoires du Jazz and Victoires de la Musique awards, and international honors like the Echo Jazz in Germany. Collaborating with renowned artists and supported by Quincy Jones, Maalouf continues to break musical boundaries, as seen in his sold-out 2023 Accor Arena performance and the announcement of his 2024 world tour in the United States and Canada. With the release of his new album TRUMPETS OF MICHEL ANGE, Ibrahim Maalouf will embark on an exciting Asian tour at the end of 2024, followed by two sold-out shows at La Salle Pleyel in Paris in December. Presented by Gotobeat. U14's to be accompanied by an adult

Police Dog Hogan are a high-energy and eclectic eight-piece, combining fiddle, trumpet, mandolin, drums and guitars with four-part harmonies in an exuberant and genre-defying fusing of country, pop, folk, and rocking urban bluegrass. Much-loved Guardian columnist Tim Dowling adds his banjo to the musical mix. The Sunday Times has described them as “wonderful”; the Telegraph named them one of its ‘favourite new bands”; Mark Radcliffe on Radio 2 said a “great night out was guaranteed” at their joyful shows; and veteran DJ Johnnie Walker praises their gigs as “a really good, fun time”. Eliot James (of Kaiser Chiefs, Bloc Party, Noah and the Whale, and Two Door Cinema Club fame) produced the band’s second CD, and Al Scott (Seth Lakeman, Oysterband, The Levellers, Asian Dub Foundation) oversaw the new album, ‘Wild By the Side of the Road’, which spent several weeks in the official UK Americana charts. Police Dog Hogan were one of only three UK bands invited to Nashville to perform at the prestigious Americana Music Association Awards, where DJ Bob Harris – in town for the awards – snapped them up for a recording that has become one of the most-watched YouTube videos on his “Under the Apple Tree Sessions” channel.

Mark Radcliffe and Marc Riley in Carry on an Audience with Mark and Lard. Like the day Neil Armstrong stepped on to the moon (if you were born then, if not, skip this bit) or when Alan Bradley got run over by a Blackpool tram on Coronation Street (ditto) – everybody can remember where they were on that fateful day in Radio 1 history. Listening to the radio. Obviously. Now, following high level negotiations after a chance meeting between Fat Harry White and Scoff Cruddle at a Bedford Rascal Enthusiasts rally, Mark and Marc have been coaxed back to wrestle once again on the sheepskin rug of light entertainment.

Experience the enchanting world of Maestro Ennio Morricone, brought to life by Ensemble Symphony Orchestra and led by conductor Giacomo Loprieno. After multiple critically acclaimed tours in Italy, Discovering Morricone debuts in the UK delving into Morricones vast repertoire with special guests such as soprano Anna Delfino, a favorite of the European opera audience, and Cirque du Soleils violinist Attila Simon. Embark on a musical journey through the decades that shaped the greatness of Italian and international cinema, through classics like Once Upon a Time in the West, Cinema Paradiso, The Hateful Eight, and Malèna.

One of the most popular string ensembles in the world.

Bernard Butler, Norman Blake and James Grant are three established and respected musicians. Norman, a centrifugal force in Teenage Fanclub, Bernard, renowned for his production and songwriting with myriad artists and James, best known as the songsmith of Love And Money. For Butler, Blake & Grant their eponymous LP brings a beautiful conclusion to 3 years of casual acquaintance, impromptu performances and late night rambles in the sitting room of Norman Blakes Clyde Valley cottage. From these laid back beginnings, a bond formed over a combined songbook spanning 5 decades of incredible music.

Randy Feltface: First Banana The first banana appeared on earth 10,000 years ago. Randy Feltface believes humanity has been in a downward spiral ever since. The only logical solution is a brand new hour of comedy from a felt-faced comedian with an axe to grind.

Damon Michael Gough, known by the stage name Badly Drawn Boy, is an English indie singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Gough chose his stage name from a character in the show Sam and his Magic Ball, which he saw on TV at a party in Trafford, Greater Manchester, in 1995.

Jen Brister is Reactive - or so she's been told. Apparently you don't have to respond to every little thing around you. Finding herself in a constant state of exacerbation at the state of the world and people in general, Brister has been told she needs to chill the hell out. Can Jen find her zen? It seems unlikely to be honest...

Born in Dungiven in 1975, surrounded and infused with the rich cultural heritage of her native County Derry, Cara has risen to become one of the finest exponents of traditional Irish song anywhere in the world. Together with her husband and musical partner, Sam Lakeman, she has succesfully steered an eclectic musical path defying the typical pigeonholes that hinder most artists in her genre. Celebrated for entwining traditional and contemporary elements she has earned both commercial success and astonishing critical acclaim. Whether she's singing her native traditional songs of lost love and emigration, or original compositions, you will be hard pressed to find a more emotive and captivating performer. Cara Dillon is at the very top of her field and one has the feeling she'll remain there for a very long time.

Join me, a stage, and a lifetime of gloriously ridiculous stories to share with you. You’ll get the full Havers experience: charm, wit, and absolutely no running in slow motion. I’ll be taking you on a thoroughly entertaining trot through five decades in showbiz. From my early days as a fresh-faced drama school hopeful, to the highs and lows of a career that’s seen me in everything from Chariots of Fire and Empire of the Sun to Don’t Wait Up and some rather marvellous West End plays – and more than my fair share of Palladium Pantos. Of course, there’ll be behind-the-scenes gossip, tales of triumph (and disaster), moments of sheer madness, and a fair bit of talking bllcks. And just when you think you’ve got me figured out, I might surprise you. Let’s just say there’s a taste of my very first acting role and a little showcase of one of my off-stage talents – I’ll leave you guessing. So, come along for a night of laughter, nostalgia, and, dare I say, charm. It’s going to be a lot of fun – I promise.

DHP Presents : Rodney crowell With very special guest Presented by DHP FAMILY. 14+ (under 16s to be accompanied by an adult)

Mike Bubbins, star of hit podcast The Socially Distant Sports Bar, and of BBC television comedies Mammoth, Tourist Trap and The Unexplainers, unleashes Throwback, his first ever solo UK stand-up tour. And things may never be the same again. Throwback is a powerful, thought-provoking, visceral hour of stand-up comedy, that pushes boundaries, defies neat descriptions and challenges the audience... As if it is! It’s actually an hour and a half of really funny stories, pretty impressive characterisations, possibly a song (he said he’ll see how that goes), a bit of nostalgia about the good old days, a bit of optimism about the good new days, and Mike generally having a laugh about life and not taking himself, or anything else, too seriously. Having said that, he may, at some point in the show, get very annoyed at berks, whether in the past, the present, or the future. Very annoyed. So basically Throwback is a comedy show about Bubbins sharing, and bringing to life, the stuff that he finds funny. As comedy concepts go, it’s a pretty straightforward one, really. ‘They asked me to do a UK comedy tour, called Throwback...and so I did.’ Mike Bubbins

Do you love rugby? Ben Youngs and Dan Cole do, and no men have played for England more times than them. Newly retired, they’re taking their podcast to the stage, bringing you the best stories from across their careers. You can expect all the bits they’re too afraid to say in episodes, games, surprises and potentially a quiz. Why? For the love of the game.

Walter Trout's backstory is a page-turner you won't want to put down. Five decades in the making; it is equal parts thriller, romance, suspense and horror. There are musical fireworks, critical acclaim and fists-aloft triumph, offset by wilderness years and brushes with the jaws of narcotic oblivion. There are feted early stints as gunslinger in bands from John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers to Canned Heat, and the solo career that’s still blazing a quarter-century later. The veteran bluesman has seen and done it all - plays earth shattering blues rock music. In only a little over a decade, Dan Patlansky has become one of the busiest and most respected blues artists to ever come out of South Africa. After his debut album which garnered Dan a reputation as a Blues-phenomenon, and his subsequent “Readers Choice” vote as “Best Blues Guitarist in Southern Africa”, Dan’s second album was released by EMI on the famed Blue Note label. Dan is one of the only South Africans to ever achieve “Blue Note” status and one of only six Fender endorsed guitarists in South Africa. Dan Patlansky, #1 Blues Rock Album 2016 by Blues Rock Review.

New stand-up tour show from Mike Wozniak in which a story about a bench will be prominent. Previous experience of or strong opinions about benches not required. Let Mike worry about that. As seen on Taskmaster, Man Down and Junior Taskmaster. As heard on Three Bean Salad podcast.

‘The Classic Rock Fan’s Ultimate Live Juke Box!’ From AC/DC to ZZ Top and everything in between, including Led Zeppelin, Dire Straits, Queen, The Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Meatloaf plus much much more. Anthem after anthem, riff after riff, solo after solo, ‘The Classic Rock Show’ brings the original recordings back to life on stage; with a huge sound and light show to match. Culminating in a show-stopping guitar duel that is definitely not to be missed.

Voted ‘Musician of the Year’ at the Scots Trad Music Awards 2023, and with a career spanning several studio albums and numerous high-profile collaborations, Julie Fowlis ‘crystalline’ and ‘intoxicating’ vocals have enchanted audiences around the world. Her music is deeply influenced by the Hebridean islands where she grew up and the Highland landscapes where she now resides, and she will forever be recognised for singing the theme songs to Brave, Disney Pixar’s Oscar-, Golden Globe- and BAFTA-winning animated film set in the ancient highlands of Scotland. A winner of ‘Folk Singer of the Year’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Julie has graced stages around the world, from village halls in the Highlands to Carnegie Hall in New York, the Mozart Concert Hall in Vienna, the Philharmonie de Paris, Shakespeare’s Globe in London and the World Festival of Sacred Music in Fez, Morocco.

Starting out as the bedroom project of Jazz pianist Scott Bradlee and rapidly growing into a viral and real-world sensation, the US group's vintage-pop mash ups have racked up over 811 million views on YouTube. Imagine marrying the 21st century party vibe of Miley Cyrus or the minimalist angst of Radiohead with the crackly warmth of a vintage 78 or the plunger-muted barrelhouse howl of a forgotten Kansas City jazzman. Bradlee's choice of material ranges from the '80s hard rock of Guns N' Roses to hits as recent as Taylor Swift's controversial "Look What You Made Me Do." They're rendered by a rotating cast of musicians and singers in fashions that date back to a time when Axl, Slash and T-Swift's parents had yet to be born - a time of street corner harmonies and torch singers, blues belters and golden-voiced crooners.

The country’s best comedians are taking the stage for a spectacular all-star festive bill of comedy goodness throughout this festive season.

GoGo Penguin have been internationally hailed as electrifying live performers, innovative soundtrack composers, and as a collective who channel electronic and club culture atmospheres alongside minimalist, jazz and rock influences to create music that pulses and flows from the dancefloor to meditative inner-worlds, transporting us into brand new realms.

With her passion for compassion and flair for giving care, the bust a gut funny (Graham Norton) Myra DuBois calls out to the disadvantaged, downtrodden and tyrannised of the world with her manifesto for mental health: Ad Myrism! But are you ready to receive the call?

Literary phenomenon John Cooper Clarke is a British cult hero. Known as the “Godfather of Punk Poetry” and the original people’s poet, John’s cultural influence spans literature, music and fashion. From creating some of the most iconic poetry of the modern era, including the world’s most popular wedding poem “I Wanna Be Yours” (which has over a billion streams in its incarnation as a hit record by the Arctic Monkeys) to sharing his life story through his best selling memoir of the same name which is full of John’s much-loved sardonic wit and hilarious ponderings on modern life. John is referenced as a major influence not just by the Arctic Monkeys but also by artists across the globe… As well as musicians like Alex Turner, The Sleaford Mods and Plan B, his legendary number “Evidently Chickentown” plays out the penultimate episode of The Sopranos. Watching John Cooper Clarke perform is an opportunity to see a living legend at the top of his game. Doctor John Cooper Clarke shot to prominence in the 1970s. Captivating audiences with his unique poetry and delivery style, he clawed his way up from working men’s clubs and cabaret venues in his native Salford and Manchester, to become one of the most prolific figures in punk. John’s early live shows were renowned occasions, and headline gigs were supported by many soon-to-be superstars including Joy Division, New Order and Duran Duran, as well as playing as special guest on shows by the Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks and The Clash. After the release of his seminal album on CBS “Snap, Crackle and Bop” where John’s poems were put to music by the legendary music producer Martin Hannett, he was firmly established as one of the most important artists of the Punk era. His recorded album was followed by the release of his first collection 10 Years in an Open Necked Shirt. The book is one of the best-selling poetry anthologies ever in the UK, Canada and Australia. As relevant and vibrant as ever, John Cooper Clarke’s influence is just as visible in contemporary pop culture, with his trademark ‘look’ resonating with fashion-conscious individuals across all demographics and his poetry features in the UK national curriculum syllabus. Having had a groundbreaking effect on modern music, his influence can be eard within the social observations of the Arctic Monkeys, amongst many others. His sense of humor resounds throughout his career, and his latest live show is a mix of classic verse, new material, hilarious ponderings on modern life, good honest gags, riffs and chat.

The Edinburgh Highland Reel & Strathspey Society (EHRSS) is delighted to be returning to The Queen's Hall again to present another varied programme of traditional Scottish fiddle music. The concert will feature the orchestra under the baton of well known Scottish fiddle player Yla Steven BEM, who last year was entered into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame. They will be playing a selection of marches, strathspeys, reels, lively jigs and hauntingly beautiful slow airs. EHRSS welcomes back piper Alexander Sime-Scott and the tenor Christopher Haggerty, who recently won the inaugural Scottish Singing Competition at the Burns Club of London. This year EHRSS will also be joined by junior choir Blackhall St. Columba's Singers.

Men want to be him, Women want their boyfriends to stop showing them his videos. The King of the Internet Jungle is back where he belongs, doing stand-up in front of a live audience. After the whirlwind success of his chart-topping podcast Fin vs History and interview series Fin vs the Internet, it’s his biggest tour yet. But with the shows on-sale so far in advance, the question remains: will he fall off the tightrope before the curtain comes up?  It’s the pre-emptive comeback special.  As seen and heard on Live At The Apollo, Have I Got News For You, The Last Leg, Roast Battle, The Mash Report, 8 out of 10 Cats, Have a Word, Parenting Hell.

Sleeping At Last, the stage moniker of Chicago-based singer, producer and composer Ryan O’Neal, has captivated worldwide listeners for the past 12 years with its enchanting and emotive sound. O’Neal is known for his ability to craft introspective and cinematic compositions, which have featured in films and series including The Fault in Our Stars, The Twilight Saga and Grey’s Anatomy. Over the last decade, O’Neal has released three full-length albums, performed with the likes of Alanis Morissette and Christina Perri, scored the feature documentary film Many Beautiful Things, and recorded a podcast in which he explains the process and inspiration behind his music, one song at a time. In this performance, he shares music from his Atlas project, which has spanned the past 11 years and seen him release an ongoing series of EPs and garner a loyal following.