BARNEY’S arts centre is to host a veritable list of legends of theatre, music and sport in the coming months.
Big named stars who have performed at venues across the world will entertain at The Witham this year. First up is folk veteran Heidi Talbot, who will perform her Sing it for a Lifetime gig on Thursday, March 16, at 8pm.
Next month, five-time Olympic gold medal winning rower Sir Steve Redgrave will talk through his remarkable career on April 14. Tickets start from £25 and there is also a VIP option for £35 that provides closest seating to the stage and a photo opportunity with Sir Steve.
Knighted in 2000 for winning five Olympic gold medals at five consecutive games – Los Angeles, Seoul, Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney – he is considered one of the greatest Olympians.
Jane Woodward, manager at The Witham, said: “We have got some big names coming over the next few months that are sure to be a big attraction.”
On Wednesday, April 19, one of UK’s finest and most revered vocalists, Kiki Dee, who celebrated her 55th year in the music industry recently, will perform with Carmelo Luggeri.
Kiki has sung with many greats over her long career and spent six weeks at number one in 1976 after replacing Dusty Springfield to record Don’t Go Breaking My Heart with Sir Elton John.
For the past 25 years she has performed with Carmelo and they will perform songs from their critically acclaimed album, The Long Ride Home, released last year. Tickets at £23 are available from The Witham Box Office.
On Friday, May 26, one of the most popular and exciting live rhythm and blues acts in the world, Dr Feelgood, takes to the stage at 7.30pm.
Formed in the early seventies, Dr Feelgood enjoyed global success with a string of hit singles including Roxette, Back in the Night and Down at the Doctors. The current line-up features Kevin Morris on drums and Phil Mitchell on bass, the return of the legendary Gordon Russell on guitar and Robert Kane, formerly of the Animals, who joined in 1999. Tickets are priced at £18 and £20.
Award-winning folk stars Martin Carthy and his daughter Eliza Carthy join forces to perform on Thursday, June 1, with an eclectic range of songs and tunes from their vast family repertoire.
The following evening (Friday, June 2) there is a treat for jazz fans when critically acclaimed singer Claire Martin, whose career spans three decades will be performing. Coming with another legend, Glasgow-born jazz guitarist Jim Mullen.
The former lead singer of the eighties and nineties band Wet Wet Wet, singer and song writer Marti Pellow, will take to the stage on Saturday, June 10, for two performances of his solo show, Pellow Talk.
All but a few tickets remain for the “up close and personal” matinee and evening performances with prices start at £30 for a standard seat, £45 for a VIP and £80 for a Meet ‘n’ Greet.
Another eighties throwback band, The Blow Monkeys, are also set to perform in June. Classics such as Digging Your Scene and It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way, the Blow Monkeys became household names. The group reformed in 2008, producing six new albums and playing hundreds of concerts. They will perform on Friday, June 23, at 7.30pm as part of their 40th anniversary celebrations. The show will feature tunes from their beginnings through to their appearance on the biggest-selling soundtrack of all time, Dirty Dancing, (You Don’t Own Me). Tickets cost £25.
Founder members of the new wave synth-pop band China Crisis, best known for a string of hits in the eighties will perform their RETROspective tour on Saturday, September 30. Tickets cost £24. On Tuesday, October 10, one of the great Irish singers, hailed as a “tradition in himself” , Andy Irvine, will perform. As a soloist Andy fills the role of the archetypal troubadour with a show and a travelling lifestyle that reflect his lifelong influence, Woody Guthrie. His repertoire consists of Irish traditional songs, dexterous Balkan dances and a compelling canon of his own self-penned songs. Tickets start from £16.
For theatre-lovers there is also a lot on offer, Olivier award winning actor and director Guy Masterman will stage Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, on Friday, November 24, when he will be playing all the parts. It’s guaranteed to get you into the Christmas Spirit. Tickets cost £15.
For more information or to book visit the box office at thewitham.org.uk.
