Posts Tagged ‘Norwich culture’
BIG COUNTRY TO PLAY CLASSIC DEBUT ALBUM LIVE FOR 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
Big Country, 2012.
Big Country, the cult Scottish rock band who formed in November 1981, kick-off their 30th anniversary celebrations by performing their classic 1983 debut album The Crossing live in its entirety during a thirteen-date tour of the U.K. in February 2012. This includes an appearance at the UEA in Norwich on February 13th.
An international best seller, The Crossing sold over 2 million copies in the UK, spawning 2 Top Ten hits and spending 84 consecutive weeks on the Music Week album chart. Scheduled for release on February 6th 2012, the deluxe edition of the album will come with a wealth of previously unreleased demos and mixes, available on 2CD, double-vinyl and digital download formats.
In announcing the ‘Crossing The Country Tour’, bassist Tony Butler says, “It’s typical to write an album and only play a few songs from it, so to get the opportunity to play an entire album is very cool. This tour will give us the chance to play songs never performed before alongside the well-known ones, songs that were written but didn’t make it on to the album, and the associated ‘b side’ material. We can’t wait.”
Big Country, who on November 19th will receive the inaugural ‘Pride of Scotland Award’ at the annual Nordoff Robbins Tartan Clef event held in Glasgow, reformed with The Alarm’s Mike Peters on lead vocal duties in place of the late Stuart Adamson, who passed away in 2001, for two sold-out UK tours and main stage festival appearances including The Isle of Wight Festival, T in The Park, Oxegen and V Festival during 2011. In addition, Big Country re-united with The Crossing’s producer Steve Lillywhite to release their first single in 12 years, ‘Another Country’.
The Crossing tour will also precede the release of a new studio album, scheduled for release in autumn 2012.
Big Country’s ‘Crossing The Country Tour’ dates are as follows:
Feb. 3: Academy, Manchester, U.K.
Feb. 4: O2 Academy, Liverpool, U.K.
Feb. 6: Barrowland, Glasgow, U.K.
Feb. 7: Alhambra, Dunfermline, U.K.
Feb. 8: O2 Academy, Newcastle, U.K.
Feb. 9: O2 Academy, Leeds, U.K.
Feb. 11: O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London, U.K.
Feb. 12: Hexagon, Reading, U.K.
Feb. 13: UEA, Norwich, U.K.
Feb. 15: O2 Academy, Bristol, U.K.
Feb. 16: Rock City, Nottingham, U.K.
Feb. 17: O2 Academy, Birmingham, U.K.
Feb. 18: O2 Academy, Sheffield, U.K.
Tickets are on sale now priced £22.50 from www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk.
The Crossing (2 CD Deluxe Edition) is available to pre-order now on Amazon: http://zaphod.uk.vvhp.net/v-v/111031182341
WIN!
We’re giving away two tickets to the Norwich gig, plus a copy of the album, ‘The Crossing: Deluxe Edition’.
To be in with a chance of winning, simply email your name and address to contact@enjoynorwich.com, subject: ‘Big Country’ by 12Midnight on Tuesday 7th February.
Until twelfth night (5 January 2012), Norwich city centre is home to 21, individually designed, 7.5ft high wooden Christmas trees. The Tree Art Trail will increase the level of festive fun in Norwich this year, helping children and families to explore our beautiful city throughout the Christmas period.
Families are being encouraged to follow the child-friendly trail over the festive season. Trail maps and activity sheets are available at each of the tree sites, and at the Tourist Information Centre at the Forum in Norwich, to guide visitors around the locations. At each tree site there is a stamp. Trail followers that collect ten or more stamps on their trail map can enter a prize draw to win some exciting prizes, all donated by local businesses.
Each enormous tree is decorated with eye-catching designs, based on traditional Christmas themes. Local artists have been painting, sculpting and crafting to create individual designs that range from fun and quirky to simple and striking.
Decorating the huge wooden Christmas Trees.
Stefan Gurney, Norwich City Centre Partnership Manager, said: “The event is a true example of partnership working in Norwich. The Tree Art Trail has been organized by Norwich City Centre Partnership as part of NORWICHRISTMAS. All the wooden templates for the trees have been provided by Chapelfield Shopping Centre with prisoners from Norwich prison building the wooden trees. Norwich Arts Centre have delivered the project with local artists.
“Each of the host sites have paid for their trees but Mills and Reeve, Alan Boswell Group and Howes Percival have kindly sponsored the trail. Without them and the support from Archant, Chapelfield, Norwich Arts Centre, City Centre Partnership, Norwich Theatre Royal and Norwich Prison Service, we wouldn’t have a Tree Trail” concludes Stefan.
In keeping with true Christmas spirit, money donated by each of the businesses hosting a tree will go to Norwich Open Christmas which provides lunch and entertainment for those who are homeless or on their own on Christmas Day.
DOWNLOAD the Tree Art Trail Map.
Tree decorating in progress...
Casting Confirmed For Lavish Musical, Oliver!
More details of the casting for the lavish production of Oliver! which is coming to Norwich Theatre Royal in the summer of 2012 are being revealed.
Cameron Mackintosh, in association with Southbrook Group Limited and Stage Entertainment UK, is taking Lionel Bart’s smash-hit musical on a major UK tour from December this year. It will reach Norwich for a five-week run starting on July 3 and feature the multi-talented stage and TV performer Brian Conley as Fagin.
Oliver! - Brian Conley as Fagin.
Now the producers are unveiling details of who else will star in the lavish production. Iain Fletcher – probably best known for the role of DC Rodney Skase in The Bill – will take on the role of Bill Sikes. He has a number of stage roles to his name including Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia! in the West End, as well as a host of TV appearances in a range of shows including Casualty, Murphy’s Law, Doctors, Family Affairs and Band Of Brothers.
Distinguished stage performers Jack Edwards and Suzie Chard will play the roles of Mr Bumble and Widow Corney, while accomplished actor Stephen Moore reprises the role of Mr Brownlow which he also played in the West End. A highly experienced performer, Stephen’s other roles include Hector in the West End run of The History Boys, Colonel Pickering in the UK tour of My Fair Lady, and film appearances in Brassed Off, The Boat That Rocked, and A Christmas Carol.
Others in the cast making their return to Norwich Theatre Royal to star in the production include David Langham, who appeared in Spamalot opposite this year’s Norwich Theatre Royal panto star Hayley Tamaddon, and Victoria Hay, who starred in the critically acclaimed production The Witches of Eastwick opposite Marti Pellow.
Meanwhile producers are set to unveil the identity of the performer who will take on the iconic role of Nancy for the Norwich arm of the tour in the weeks ahead.
John Bultitude, of Norwich Theatre Royal, said: “Cameron Mackintosh and his team have assembled some of this country’s finest stage performers to take on the lead roles in his highly-anticipated production of Oliver!
“Their undoubted experience and on-stage ability coupled with the performing flair of Brian Conley will make this show a must-see for 2012.”
Oliver! recently completed a two-year run at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London where it opened to rave reviews, sell-out business and the biggest advance sales of all time for a West End show.
Last year, Oliver! celebrated its 50th birthday having premiered in the West End in 1960.
Oliver!, Tuesday July 3-Saturday August 4 at 7.30pm, and Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm.
Tickets £6.50-£47.50. Discounts for Over-60s, Under-18s and Groups.
Audio described performance on Saturday July 14 at 7.30pm. Signed performance on Friday August 3 at 7.30pm.
BOX OFFICE 01603 630000. For more info or to BOOK ONLINE www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk.
- 11/02/2012 - Love Looks: An Exhibition of Nudes plus sensual poetry and images February 11, 2012
- 11/02/2012 - Signs of Spring Week at Fairhaven Garden February 11, 2012
- 10/02/2012 - Coaching for a Great Life! Weekend Break in Norfolk February 10, 2012
- 09/02/2012 - A Beginner's Guide to Stargazing February 9, 2012
- 09/02/2012 - SCIENCE MUSEUM LIVE ON TOUR February 9, 2012