Courtesy of Chipster PR
Former Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who played on many of the band’s most famous recordings, will mount his first North American solo trek in 13 years this fall.
Wakeman’s The Grumpy Old Rock Star Tour currently features 14 confirmed dates, and is mapped out from a September 21 show in Annapolis, Maryland, through an October 13 concert in Ridgefield, Connecticut. The outing eventually will visit a total of 25 cities and will be extended into November.
The shows will feature the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, who turned 70 on Saturday, playing solo piano versions of Yes classics, material from his solo albums, and well-known songs by other artists to which he contributed, including some early David Bowie hits. Rick also will present his arrangements of a few Beatles tunes at the concerts. Interspersed with the performances, Wakeman will entertain audiences with his trademark bawdy jokes and humorous anecdotes.
Prior to the North American trek, Rick will play a series of solo shows in the U.K. He’s also scheduled a pair of special orchestral performances of his 1974 album Journey to the Centre of the Earth on July 13 and 14 at London’s Royal Festival Hall. These concerts will be the final U.K. performances of the album, and also will serve as a celebration of Wakeman’s 70th birthday.
Tickets for Wakeman’s North American shows are on sale now. Visit RWCC.com for more details.
Here are all of Wakeman’s confirmed U.S. and Canadian tour dates:
9/21 — Annapolis, MD, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts
9/22 — Derry, NH, Tupelo Music Hall
9/23 — Boston, MA, The Wilbur
9/24 — Huntington, NY, The Paramount
9/25 — Alexandria, VA, The Birchmere
9/27 — Quebec City, QC, Canada, Palais Montcalm
9/28 — Montreal, QC, Canada, Olympia Theatre
9/29 — Toronto, ON, Canada, Danforth Music Hall
10/2 — Harrisburg, PA, Whitaker Center
10/4 — St. Charles, IL, Arcada Theatre
10/8 — Allentown, PA, Miller Symphony Hall
10/10 — Englewood, NJ, Bergen Performing Arts Center
10/11 — Collingswood, NJ, Scottish Rite Auditorium
10/13 — Ridgefield, CT, Ridgefield Playhouse
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