SONGS OF MOTOWN

Starring the Stars of Spectrum and Radiance, this show has been playing to packed houses and standing ovations in the United States for over seven years.  Both groups have toured Australia with individual success. They combine their talents in one evening of all the great Motown Hits, covering the female hits of  The Supremes, Martha  and the Vandellas, The Marvelettes, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Diana Ross and many many more, and great male artists as diverse as The Temptations, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Boyz to Men, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and all the Legends of Motown. Songs in the Key of Motown is a fully choreographed Motown Experience. If you like Motown, you will love “Songs in the Key of Motown”.

Wednesday 24 June 2015 – Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
Tickets from venue – (08) 9550 3900

Thursday 25 June 2015 – Astor Theatre, Mt Lawley
Tickets from Stagetix – (08) 9370 1777
www.astortheatreperth.com

Sunday 27 July 2014

Northern Blues N Roots Club & The Northshore Tavern at Whitfords proudly presented the inaugural Winter Blues Fest – with 10 hours of continuous live blues from 13 WA blues Acts on 2 stages. For more info click here.

Wednesday

28th May              

Astor Theatre

Mount Lawley

Featuring special guests:        Pink & White Bridge

The legendary American jazz, smooth jazz, jazz fusion, blues, pop, and rock guitarist is coming to Australia with his quartet. Well known for his solo recordings and session appearances with various well-known bands, Larry Carlton has won four Grammy Awards for his performances and compositions, including performing on the theme song for the hit television series, Hill Street Blues. Best known for his work as a session player on albums by artists as diverse as Carole King, Michael Jackson and Steely Dan.

Check out his videos

Dave Hole at West Coast Blues ‘n’ Roots:

Dave Hole was  invited to appear at the 2014 West Coast Blues ‘n’ Roots Festival on Sunday 13 April 2014

Appeared at the Perth Concert Hall on Wednesday 2 April 2014

Tickets from Ticketek 132 849 http://www.ticketek.com.au

The premiere of “Flamencura” brings together highly-skilled virtuoso talents of the legendary Paco Pena and his latest exploration into the art of Flamenco, incorporating guitar, singing and dancers.

“Flamenco rhythms are vital; the compás is like a primal pulse, like the rhythm of the earth… and everyone must get to feel it!”

The New York Times declared that: “Mr Peña is a virtuoso, capable of dazzling an audience beyond the frets of mortal man. He combines rapid-fire flourishes with a colourist’s sense of shading; this listener cannot recall hearing any guitarist with a more assured mastery of his instrument.” It should come as no surprise that readers of America’s Guitar magazine judged Paco Peña as best flamenco guitarist of the year for five consecutive years.

For more info click here

Starring the Stars of Spectrum and Radiance, this show has been playing to packed houses and standing ovations in the United States for over six years.  Both groups have toured Australia with individual success. They now combine their talents in one evening of all the great Motown Hits, covering the female hits of  The Supremes, Martha  and the Vandellas, The Marvelettes, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Diana Ross and many many more, and great male artists as diverse as The Temptations, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Boyz to Men, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and all the Legends of Motown. Songs in the Key of Motown is a fully choreographed Motown Experience. If you like Motown, you will love “Songs in the Key of Motown”.

Wednesday 12 March 2014 – Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre

Thursday 13 March 2014 – Mandurah Performing Arts Centre

Friday 14 March 2014 – Astor Theatre, Mt Lawley 

For more info Click here

The platters

Peter Powers:

Peter started hypnotising people at the age of 12, despite the vehement opposition of his deeply religious parents. He is the holder of two world records in the field of hypnosis: 1. For the world’s fastest hypnotic induction. He hypnotized 12 people, individually in one minute. 2. For the world’s longest hypnotic sleep. The subject lay sleeping, in full public view, for 8 continuous days. This event was televised and broadcast in The UK and all over Europe. He has made 60 of his own television shows, broadcast in more than 20 different countries, and has made 29 TV shows in Australia, specifically for Australian television. Peter Powers  is currently enjoying huge success with sell-out tours of the U.K and Europe, in which he demonstrates his incredible, but sometimes wayward talent, on unsuspecting audiences. With this enormous success, demands to see Peter Powers on stage in Australia have soared, and soon W.A audiences will get a chance to see one of the world’s greatest street hypnotists. A unique blend of outrageous humour and his witty, mischievous style of delivery make him one of the very best in the business.  Critics have called him  “The Ali G of Stage Hypnosis”;  “The most talented stage craftsman that I have ever had the privilege to witness”;  “….of all the hypnotists I’ve seen,  Peter Powers is by far the funniest”;  “makes the antics of Paul McKenna pale into insignificance” ; “the hip hypnotist” and many more….. During 2008 Foxtel aired nationally a 13- week series of Peter Power’s shows “Power Of One” which is the 3rd series. Following these specials, Foxtel followed through with another series by Peter Powers titled “Street Hypnosis”. Peter is often referred to as a “Comedy Genuis”. Peter Powers is in strong demand Worldwide and in 2009 he filmed a further 13-week series of TV shows in the Netherlands for the Dutch market and tours there every year. Peter also tours England, Scotland, Ireland and Canada and currently in discussion with the US market. With appearances on “The Footy Show” and his numerous TV Specials “Celebrity Superpowers”, and “The Power Of One”, Peter Powers has become a major celebrity and draw card on the Australian circuit. Radio Stations love to interview Peter Powers as listeners tune in to hear the quirky antics he gets up to when hypnotizing his subjects. But being live at a  Peter Powers stage show is the ultimate experience offering ultimate comedy entertainment. Peter says touring in Australia is great fun. “Australians really enjoy their entertainment and make superb, often wild, audiences”, “the guys are very daring especially as ‘male strippers’, “each person has his or her own persona which makes each show different and exciting”, “expect the unexpected as I plant the suggestion to girls that they will image having orgasms when they shake my hand, and the harder I shake, the wilder the orgasms get!” But it’s all good humour.. Acclaim from critics include: “The naughtiest stage hypnotist”: The Express “The Ali G of stage hypnosis”: The Sun “Peter Powers is number one today”: The Independent Peter Powers performed at the following venues,

Midge Ure, the Voice of Ultravox, performed at the Charles Hotel on the 27th April 2013. 

Midge Ure is an artist who really needs very little introduction – he has received Ivor Novello, Grammy and BASCAP awards, along with a flotilla of gold and platinum records. His musical success is phenomenal – by the time Midge’s single “If I Was” went to No. 1 in 1985 he had already crammed several musical lifetimes into a 10 year professional career speaks volumes – Slik, The Rich Kids, Thin Lizzy, Visage, Ultravox and of course the most famous one-off group in musical history (Band Aid) had by then all had the guiding hand of his musical navigation. Ultravox was a major influence on the new romantic and electro-pop movements of the early ’80s and many an open-minded studio and bedroom experimentalist since. Their successful trademark was combining Midge’s powerful guitar riffs with sweeping synthesiser motifs, enigmatic imagery and state-of-the-art visuals. Throughout the first half of the ’80s, they brilliantly combined the responsibilities of top 10 chartmakers and innovative style-makers. Their hits included ‘Reap the Wild Wind’, ‘Dancing With Tears in My Eyes’, ‘Love’s Great Adventure’ and 1981’s timeless ‘Vienna‘ were all massive hits the world over as they charted with awesome regularity, and the historic blockbuster hit ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ a song he had just written with Bob Geldof as the industry’s heartfelt and eloquent contribution to Ethiopian famine relief.

GARY PUCKETT AND THE UNION GAP PERFORMED LIVE AT THE ASTOR THEATRE ON THE 9TH OF MARCH 2013. SUPPORTED BY THE FANTASTIC JASON AYRES

Gary Puckett & The Union Gap was one of the most successful musical groups of the sixties.In 1968 Gary Puckett and The Union Gap had six consecutive gold records and sold more records than any other recording act – including the Beatles. Gary’s unmistakable signature voice garnered six consecutive gold records and top ten billboard hits with the following titles: Young Girl, Woman Woman,  Over You, This Girl is a Woman Now, Keep the Customer Satisfied, Don’t Give Into Him and Home. He’s performed on more than 30 network television shows and primetime specials during his career, and even performed for the President and Prince Charles at the White House. Gary continues to tour extensively around the world, performing up to 150 shows a year to sell out crowds. The Gary Puckett and The Union Gap’s “Greatest Hits” album remains one of CBS’ best selling “Collector Series” albums today.

Dave Hole:

Considering all the praise lavished on Dave Hole in recent years, it’s hard to believe that he’s actually been performing for more than four decades. As a teenager he fell for the blues upon hearing a friend’s Muddy Waters record. He yearned to hear more but at that time blues records were difficult to obtain in remote Western Australia. It was also years before any blues artists began to perform there in person, so Hole had to teach himself to play. At first, only Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix albums were easily available, but with persistence he eventually got his hands on records by Blind Willie Johnson, Skip James, Blind Lemon Jefferson and many others. The likes of Robert Johnson, Elmore James and Mississippi Fred McDowell became his main “teachers”, as he listened to their recordings over and over again, absorbing all he could from these blues masters. Then, either by accident or by fate, Hole broke his little finger in a football game. The only way he could continue to play guitar without pain was to put a slide on his index finger and hang his hand over the top of the guitar neck. When his finger eventually healed, Hole had become so used to the ‘wrong’ way of playing (and grown so fond of the tone he was getting), that he never turned back. Throughout the 1970’s and 80’s Hole was gigging non-stop around Perth and the country towns of Western Australia, winning fans wherever he went. In 1991, after playing the Australian circuit for over twenty years, he self-produced SHORT FUSE BLUES, an album intended purely for direct sale to his fans. On a whim he mailed a copy to Jas Obrecht, then editor of the influential American “Guitar Player” magazine. “Magnificent, staggering, almost beyond belief.  Utterly Blues approved. … ferocious, fire-breathing slide … What more could you ask?” raved Obrecht, who then tipped off Alligator Records president Bruce Iglauer. Iglauer, encouraged by his staff’s excitement on hearing the album, released it to a world-wide audience. Almost overnight, Dave Hole became an international phenomenon.  The album review in “Guitar Player” was followed by a July 1991 feature story which launched Hole to stardom. When  Iglauer signed him, Hole became the only non U.S. based artist in the label’s 40-year history. The gamble more than paid off. American critics praised Hole all over the country, and new fans were exposed to him through radio play on more than 1000 stations. Rave reviews appeared in Guitar World, Billboard, Audio, Spin, New York Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, The Denver Post and many other major publications, as well as on The Associated Press newswire. And it’s not just the critics who were paying attention. Metallica’s Kirk Hammett has named Dave Hole as one of his all-time favourite guitarists, saying “His slide playing kills me”.  People everywhere have taken notice. When veteran rock and blues guitarist Gary Moore first heard “SHORT FUSE BLUES”, he was so impressed that he invited Dave to join him on two European tours, playing large stadiums and arenas and concluding with two memorable nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Subsequent albums and tours of the U.S. and Europe have solidified his stature as one of the very best guitarists playing today, taking him from virtual obscurity all the way to international recognition and admiration. His explosive live show has won him critical acclaim wherever he has gone and invariably leaves audiences spellbound in his wake. He constantly fills venues to overflowing and then proceeds to lift the rafters off with blistering performances. He has performed at countless blues festivals around the world and show after show have ended with rapturous applause. Blues Revue noted, “If this guy played with any more feeling, he’d have to go on Prozac. Dave Hole is not only a superb guitarist with a distinctive sound, he performs heart-felt vocals with the depth and credibility of any blues headliner touring today … hard driving rocking blues … he is electricity incarnate!” Now you have a chance to be mesmerised by Dave’s brilliance, as he gets ready to headline at the Blues at Bridgetown Festival. He’ll be joined by legendary blues musos like Charlie Musselwhite, Scottie Miller and many more.

THE BLUES AT BRIDGETOWN FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE FROM THE 9TH – 11TH NOVEMBER. FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE. FOR TICKETS, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Paul Ubana Jones:

Born in London to a Yorkshire mother and a Nigerian father, Paul Ubana Jones was playing guitar by the age of 11, beginning a three decade career that would see him crossing continents and recording seven albums of mostly original songs. After graduating from a London music college, where he studied guitar and cello, Paul began to forge the solo acoustic style that he has stuck to and developed over the years. In the late seventies, Paul based himself in Provence, Southern France, and toured all over Europe and North Africa, as well as venturing extensively into Canada and the US. In the late eighties Paul and his family moved to New Zealand, which is still their permanent home. He has continued to perform internationally, to growing acclaim. Concert performances include opening for the likes of Bob Dylan, Patti Smith and touring with: Taj Mahal, Keb Mo’, Tuck and Patti, Crowded House and Norah Jones. Festival appearances include Dublin Blues Festival, Byron Bay Blues Festival, Vancouver Folk Festival, Comox Festival, Calgary Festival, Edmonton Festival, Winnipeg and Blues at Bridgetown, as well as festivals across Switzerland, Germany, France and Spain. Paul continues to perform regularly in New Zealand and is well known to audiences on both its islands.

“Paul Ubana Jones’ … soulful voice, sprightly guitar agility and enthusiasm made this the most inspired performance of the evening … In any other country he would be a national institution!” – Simon Sweetman

“Opening act Paul Ubana Jones earned his own standing ovation with his utterly distinctive guitar. I can only describe it as part Ritchie Havens part Andre Segovia and part Ravi Shankir. That’s right, he closed his set with a raging Indian Raga that was as dazzling in technique as it was inventive in composition.” Jim Kerschner reviewing Paul Ubana Jones and Taj Mahal. Washington/Seattle

“Trying to describe just how good Paul Ubana Jones is, is like trying to define why the Mona Lisa is the most famous painting in the world – words pale in comparison” Evening Post. Wellington

Paul will be playing at the following venues from the 3rd – 13th of November:

Joe Longthorne and Melissa Manchester

JOE LONGTHORNE

With sell out performances at the Royal Albert Hall, The Sydney Opera House and the London Palladium, a succesful Prime TV Show “The Joe Longthorne Show”, and numerous Royal Variety Performances, Joe Longthorne is a household name in the U.K. Described by Tony Bennett as the Singer with a voice in a million, Joe will be touring in Perth on the 7th of November 2012 at the Regal Theatre with his band, perfoming all the songs that his fans know him for. All his previous tours to Australia have sold out, so make sure you get tickets early!

MELISSA MANCHESTER

Melissa’s music has served to establish her as a compelling singer/songwriter. Her debut releases Home To Myself and Bright Eyes positioned her as a dynamic new talent, and Melissa launched the smash hit single “Midnight Blue”. Her songs have been recorded by Barbra Streisand, Dusty Springfield, Alison Krauss, Roberta Flack, Johnny Mathis, among many others. Her hit singles include “You should hear how he talks about you” “Through the Eyes of Love” ” Don’t Cry out Loud” “Whenever I call you Friend” Melissa will be perfoming in Perth for the first time, on the 7th of November performing some of her greatest hits.

UNFORTUNATELY THIS SHOW HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES – WE SINCERELY APOLOGISE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED. FOR TICKET REFUNDS PLEASE CLICK HERE 

Howard Jones

It was in 1983 that Howard Jones first burst upon the contemporary music scene and brought his very English song-writing and pioneering synthesizers to an unsuspecting world. Anyone who was around in the mid to late eighties will remember those high energy gigs and his first two albums Human’s Lib and Dream into Action. They lived in the higher reaches of the album charts in the UK, USA, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Australia and many other countries in the 1984-86 period. The hits kept coming: New Song, What is Love?, Pearl in the Shell, Hide and Seek,(which he performed at Live Aid in 1985), Like to Get to Know You Well, Look Mama, Things Can only Get Better and Everlasting Love were all critically acclaimed, while the quintessential No One is To Blame reached No.1 in the US. Jones has still been very active in the industry, collaborating with the likes of Eric Prydz and Ferry Corsten and showing the younger generation exactly why he is considered a pioneer in electronic music. Jones has re-mastered both classic albums and will perform them live on his Australian tour – so if you were too young the first time around it’ll be a chance to find out where all those beats and sounds came from, and if you were around it’ll bring all those memories flooding back!

HOWARD JONES WILL BE PLAYING AT THE ASTOR THEATRE ON WEDNESDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER. TICKETS ARE AVAILBLE AT BOCS TICKETING

Jose Feliciano

The name Jose Feliciano is synonymous with an international presence that has influenced popular music for more than two generations. It is synonymous with a presence that has bridged musical styles in a way that has never been equaled. He is recognized as the first Latin Artist to cross over into the English music market, opening the doors to others who now play an important part in the American music industry. As importantly, he has been acclaimed by critics throughout the world as “The greatest living guitarist”. Referred to as “The Picasso of his Realm,” Jose Feliciano’s accolades are repeatedly celebrated. Guitar Player Magazine awarded him “Best Pop Guitarist,” placing him in their “Gallery of the Greats”, and  he’s been voted both Best Jazz and Best Rock Guitarist in the Playboy Magazine reader’s poll. He’s been awarded over forty-five Gold and Platinum records, has won sixteen Grammy nominations, (earning him eight Grammy Awards) and is in receipt of countless prestigious awards the world over. Recent years have seen Jose continuing to travel to all corners of the globe: India,  Brazil,  Australia and Germany to name a few. Having visited over eighty countries across the face of the Earth for more than two generations, his current itinerary proves that he has no intention of slowing down anytime soon and 2012 will be no different. Jose will be supported by the fantastic Chelsea J. Gibson, who has been making waves recently in the WA music scene.

JOSE FELICIANO WILL BE PLAYING AT THE REGAL THEATRE ON WEDNESDAY THE 5TH OF SEPTEMBER. TICKETS ON SALE AT TICKETEK.

The Bootleg Beatles

Formed from the West End cast of the Broadway musical ‘Beatlemania’; The Bootleg Beatles are the world’s premier Beatles tribute band. In an illustrious career, they have played the main stage at Glastonbury, supported Oasis, performed on the Graham Norton show and performed for the Queen in the palace. Now after 30 years of setting the bar for other Tribute Acts, they are bringing their amazing multi-media production to Australia. Critics have said: ‘Mind-boggling accuracy’ – The Mail ‘Fastidiously Authentic’ – Daily Telegraph ‘I enjoyed their act enormously’ – George Martin, The Beatles’ Produce. Check out the band in action here.

THE BOOTLEG BEATLES WILL BE PLAYING AT THE BUNBURY REGAL ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE (BREC) ON SATURDAY THE 28TH OF APRIL. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE BREC WEBSITE.

Follow that Dream: The Gospel According To Elvis

Arguably the best Elvis tribute artist since the great King himself,  Max Pellicano is back on our shores with a brand new musical sensation: Follow That Dream – The Gospel According to Elvis; a rocking musical theatre production that had critics and fans alike dancing in the aisles during its first US run. Elvis Presley, after his passing, reflects on an extraordinary life – from humble beginnings in Tupelo, Mississipi, to a life of excess in Las Vegas. Employing visionary silhouette performance techniques, we are introduced to those who helped shape him into the King; from his parents to Priscilla and from the Colonel to Sam Phillips at  Sun Studios. Featuring a talented cast and full live orchestra, this show is a must for lovers of the late, great, Elvis Presley.

Tickets for his concert at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre are selling fast;  click here for yours!

The Sweet

Sweet is a success story that begins in 1970. When Brian Connolly and Mick Tucker left Wainwrights Gentlemen in 1968 to form their own band “Sweetshop”, later shortened to “The Sweet“, little did they know what lay ahead. They recruited Steve Priest on bass who was gaining a reputation with his band, The Army. After two guitarists, Frank Torpey and Mick Stewart and four singles which failed to make the charts the band were at a crossroads, almost at the point of splitting when Andy Scott, from The Elastic Band, joined. The year was 1970 and the “Classic” Sweet line up was complete. Brian Connolly (the band’s original lead vocalist)  had the good fortune to meet record producer Phil Wainman at the BBC, who had met a couple of songwriters, Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman –  their songs needed a singer and eventually a band. The first Sweet single “Funny Funny” was among the original recordings and the rest as they say is history. The band have gone on to sell over 55 million copies worldwide, record 34  Number 1 Hits worldwide that include the likes of ‘Ballroom Blitz‘, ‘Block Buster‘, ‘Hell Raiser‘ and ‘Fox on the Run‘. Sweet are still performing and touring, often to sell out crowds around the world! Sweet will be supported by Almost Slayed, Australia’s Premier Slade Tribute Act!

Sweet will be performing at the Regal Theatre, Subiaco, on Saturday the 10th March 2012.

Tickets are availble through Ticketek

Previously Booked Tours Include: