Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Michael Schenker Group (MSG) - Ulster Hall, Belfast - 19/12/09: CANCELLED


'Due to unforeseen circumstances' the Michael Schenker Group concert at the Ulster Hall, Belfast on 19/12/09 has been cancelled. The Promoter: CDC Leisure Ltd, has confirmed (at short notice) that the gig has been called off.

Sounds like it may have been due to poor ticket sales even though the balcony seats were sold out. It's not the first time that the promoters' and the management of the Ulster Hall have been indecisive as to whether a show should be seated, or not, close to the date of a concert. I recall this happened with the Jeff Beck concert in June 2009.

Perhaps the "Spring & Airbrake" should have been used again? . . . Great venue & great atmosphere.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Jeff Beck - UK Tour 2010 & New Album: Emotion and Commotion (Release Date: April 2010)



Jeff Beck will be touring extensively in 2010 to promote his new album and is playing a string of UK shows in October 2010 culminating in a show at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

The line-up of his new band will include bassist Rhonda Smith (played with Prince and Little Richard); keyboard player Jason Rebello (CV includes stints with Sting and Chaka Khan); and drummer Narada Michael Walden (a Grammy Award-winning producer who worked with Beck on the 1976 album Wired).

Sorry to hear Tal will not be participating in Jeff's 2010 world tour because of scheduling issues. Jeff's loss, and, to me, Tal will be missed from the line-up, as will Vinnie. The Tal Wilkenfeld Quartet featuring Tal, Vinnie Colaiuta, John Beasley and Oz Noy will headline Berklee College Of Music's WesFest 5 benefit at the Roxy in L.A. on February 28th.

UK Tour Dates:

Oct. 15: Bournemouth BIC
Oct. 16: Brighton Centre
Oct. 17: Birmingham Symphony Hall
Oct. 20: Glasgow Clyde Auditorium
Oct. 21: Manchester Apollo
Oct. 22: Sheffield City Hall
Oct 24: Bristol Colston Hall
Oct. 25: Cardiff St. David’s Hall
Oct. 26: London Royal Albert Hall

Jeff's new album is due to be released on April 13, 2010. 

Disc 1: Studio
1.“Corpus Christi Carol”
2.“Hammerhead”
3.“Never Alone”
4.“Somewhere Over The Rainbow”
5.“I Put A Spell On You” - featuring Joss Stone
6.“Serene”
7.“Lilac Wine” - featuring Imelda May
8.“Nessun Dorma”
9.“There’s No Other Me” - featuring Joss Stone
10.“Elegy For Dunkirk” - featuring Olivia Safe

Disc 2: (bonus DVD - six live tracks from Jeff's 2007 Crossroads performance)
1. Stratus
2. Behind The Veil
3. Nadia
4. Big Block
5. Brush With The Blues
6. A Day In The Life


Hopefully, Jeff will find time during the tour to play at the Ulster Hall, Belfast. The reception Jeff and his band received the last time - 30 June 2009 - was exceptional, as was the performance.